Jonny Matthews scored a pair of tries as Glasgow overcame a scare towards bottom-of-the-table Zebre to finish their regulation United Rugby Championship marketing campaign with a 38-26 victory at Scotstoun.
Warriors have been already assured of a top-four end however their bid to enter the play-offs on a excessive observe have been in jeopardy for a lot of the night because the spirited Italians led till the 66th minute earlier than wilting within the closing phases.
Glasgow had Scotland internationals Richie Grey and Huw Jones again of their beginning XV for the primary time since they sustained accidents on Six Nations responsibility.
The hosts made a robust begin and acquired themselves forward within the third minute when prop Jamie Bhatti scored off the again of a lineout maul. Veteran stand-off Duncan Weir, on his one hundred and fiftieth look, added the extras.
Zebre decreased their arrears to only one level, nonetheless, with a few penalties from Giovanni Montemauri within the thirteenth and twenty fourth minutes.
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Glasgow
Zebre
The hosts stretched their lead within the thirty second minute, nonetheless, as hooker Matthews touched down for his 14th attempt of the season – his thirteenth within the URC – from one other lineout maul. Weir was off course with the conversion.
Zebre completed the primary half with a flourish. With 38 minutes on the clock, full-back Jacopo Trulla despatched a penalty from simply inside his personal half hovering between the posts.
And within the final motion of the primary half, the Italians acquired their noses in entrance with a scintillating attempt as some wonderful play by Trulla and Pierre Bruno created a gap for Montemauri to race clear down the proper. Montemauri transformed himself to offer Zebre a shock 16-12 lead on the break.
Glasgow regained the initiative two minutes after the break, nonetheless, when Rowe utilized the end after some wonderful play by Sione Tuipulotu to set him free. Weir was once more unable so as to add the conversion.
However Zebre roared again into the lead within the fiftieth minute when Bautista Stavile intercepted a Rory Darge move and darted over, with Montemauri once more on level from the tee.
The topsy-turvy nature of the match continued on the hour mark when Sebastian Cancelliere burst in on the proper to complete off a beautiful flowing Glasgow build-up, with substitute George Horne changing.
However the guests went forward once more simply two minute later with one other excellently-struck penalty from Montemauri.
Glasgow lastly managed to grab management within the closing phases, nonetheless, with tries from Matthews and substitute Tom Jordan – each transformed by Horne – taking the sport away from the Italians.
? Sione Tuipulotu producing one thing out of nothing for @GlasgowWarriors #BKTURC | #URC | #GLAvZEB pic.twitter.com/8iOwdPcBEU
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) Might 31, 2024
