Glasgow Warriors survive turbulence as debutant has day to remember

The league leaders trailed 10-7 at half-time and looked strangely flat but they nilled their Italian opponents in the second period to win 31-10 and strengthen their grip at the top of the United Rugby Championship.

It wasn’t vintage Warriors but they got the job done, and with a bonus point too. Fergus Watson had a debut to remember, notching a fine try and having a big hand in another, finished off by Max Williamson. There were also scores for Johnny Matthews, in his first game of the year following a neck injury, Seb Stephen and Sam Talakai.

The latter two were second-half replacements and the home side’s bench had a big influence on a night when they had to grind it out.

Glasgow have now won 10 from 10 at home this season and are nine points clear of second-placed Stormers who play Edinburgh in Cape Town on Saturday. The season remains alive with possibilities. Next up, it's the Bulls at home in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.

Benetton beat Glasgow in Treviso early in the season so we perhaps shouldn't have been too surprised at how difficult they made things for their hosts at Scotstoun in the first half. They enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory in the opening quarter and took a deserved lead through Paolo Odogwu. There didn’t seem to be too much on as he picked up the ball just outside the Glasgow 22 but he wriggled his way through, breaking an attempted tackle by Matthews before going under the posts. It wasn’t the Warriors hooker’s finest moment and Rhyno Smith added the conversion to rub salt in the wound.

Odogwu and Matthews were involved in another key moment a few minutes later. The Glasgow man was fielding a ball close to his own line when the Benetton centre caught him high. Odogwu actually came off worse from the collision but he’d got the tackle all wrong and was shown a yellow card after receiving treatment.

Unlike in last week’s stirring win over Leinster, Glasgow failed to take advantage of their numerical advantage. They were lacking a creative spark and it was the Italian visitors who looked the more likely. Matt Gallagher, the Benetton full-back, made a dangerous break but was well tackled by Josh McKay.

As the clock ticked towards half-time Glasgow began to probe. They won a couple of penalties which Adam Hastings kicked to the corner, the second of which was absolutely nailed by the stand-off. The throw went over the top and Hastings himself gathered and was stopped just short. Matthews was then able to pick up and burrow his way over, with the try awarded after a TMO check.

Hastings converted but Benetton ended the half on top when Rhyno Smith landed a penalty in added on time after Euan Ferrie failed to roll away.

You can only imagine what Franco Smith had to say to his players at half-time but whatever it was, it had an immediate effect. Benetton failed to deal with the kick-off and from the subsequent lineout Glasgow scored their second try. Both Siones, Tuipulotu and Vailanu, hit the line at speed before Hastings whipped the ball wide to Watson who marked his debut with a superb try. Hasting converted to make it 14-10 and Glasgow held the lead for the first time.

Benetton looked like they had reclaimed the lead when fly-half Leonardo Marin capitalised on a loose pass from Tuipulotu to Huw Jones. The ball was recycled and Martin played in Rhyno Smith to score but Niccolò Cannone had knocked on in the build-up.

It was a let off for the Warriors and they made the most of it. Watson, the grandson of former Scotland international Bill, was so impressive in his first competitive outing and went on a weaving run deep into enemy territory. He was stopped short but from the next ruck Williamson was able to pile over. Hastings couldn’t land the conversion but Glasgow now led 19-10 and had the scent of victory in their nostrils.

They finished the night with two tries from lineout drives, the first from Stephen, the second from Talakai. In between, Jack Oliver was unfortunate to have a score disallowed. In the final analysis, it didn’t matter: Glasgow had the bonus-point victory and are top of the tree with four URC rounds remaining of the regular season.

Match details

Scorers: Glasgow Warriors: Tries: Matthews, Watson, Williamson, Stephen, Talakai. Cons: Hastings 2, Lancaster.

Benetton: Try: Odogwu. Con: R Smith. Pen: R Smith.

Yellow card: Odogwu (Benetton, 23min)

Glasgow Warriors: J McKay; F Watson, H Jones (J Oliver 55), S Tuipulotu, O Smith; A Hastings (D Lancaster 61), B Afshar; P Schickerling (Jamie Bhatti 47), J Matthews (S Stephen 47), F Richardson (Sam Talakai 47), J Oguntibeju (A Samuel 47), M Williamson (A Craig 64), E Ferrie, S Vailanu (Angus Fraser 51), Macenzzie Duncan.

Benetton: M Gallagher; L Lynagh, P Odogwu, T Medina (F Drago 58), R Smith; L Marin, A Garbisi (A Uren 26-34; 58); D Aminu (T Gallo 51), B Bernasconi (N Gasperini 51), M Gallorini (T Pasquali 51), N Cannone (S Scrafton 55), F Ruzza (M Midena 66), A Izekor, M Zuliani (J Kingi 42), A Fa’aso’o.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU).