Glasgow win easily by six tries after Benetton red card

United Rugby Championship

Glasgow Warriors (14) 42

Try: Steyn 2, M Fagerson, Darge, Dobie, Ferrie Conversion: Hastings 2, Weir 4

Benetton (7) 10

Try: Spagnolo Penalties: Umaga Conversion: Umaga

Glasgow Warriors secured a bonus-point victory over Benetton, who were reduced to 14 men for the entire second half after Scott Scrafton saw red for a high shot on Adam Hastings just before half-time.

Franco Smith’s United Rugby Championship title holders were 14-7 up at the time with tries from Kyle Steyn and Matt Fagerson.

Rory Darge and Jamie Dobie secured the bonus point before Benetton were reduced to 13 when Paolo Odogwu was sent off.

Moments later, the irrepressible Sione Tuipulotu found Steyn with a long pass and the captain headed in for his second.

Euan Ferrie, the full-back who replaced the wing for much of the second half, advanced from close range to score six tries late on. Duncan Weir added the extras.

Poor Benetton were briefly down to 12 men late on, their discipline blown to smithereens on a bruising night that could have been much worse if Glasgow had been more ruthless with their many chances.

Glasgow started in thrilling fashion with a try from deep, started by the irrepressible Sione Tuipulotu – from center for Hastings, who put Josh McKay into a gap. McKay found Kyle Rowe on the left and passed to Steyn with ease.

Then Glasgow hit another, inspired again by Tuipulotu, who moved away from one tackle and spun from another to clear Fagerson.

Glasgow were cutting back at Benetton, but the visitors briefly gave the hosts a dose of their own medicine by scoring a throw-in, with Spagnolo going down.

Just before half-time, however, the game changed when Scrafton illegally hit Hastings.

Hastings did not reappear in the second half, during which Jacob Umaga reduced the deficit to 14-10, but the floodgates opened from there.

Benetton spilled everything in the 22nd and Tom Jordan set up Darge.

Soon after, a deft move from a scrum saw Steyn and Dobie cut back, the scrum half jumping. That was the bonus point. Work completed.

Odogwu took Steyn out of the air and saw yellow. Steyn pulled off a double blow by scoring seconds later.

The excellent Ferrie appeared in unfamiliar territory to close out.

They could have scored more, but the champions are riding high with a five-pointer.

What they said

Glasgow Warriors manager Franco Smith on Premier Sports: “We never talked much about the loss last week. Many players made their first appearance in a contact environment, so we were very excited about the performance.

“Tonight we asked for progression and in most areas we saw that. It was an important step for us. We missed opportunities but I’m still happy with the overall performance.”

Glasgow Warriors: McKay, Steyn, Tuipulotu, Jordan, Rowe, Hastings, Dobie, McBeth, Hiddleston, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Gray, Ferrie, Darge, M Fagerson.

Substitutions: Matthews, Sutherland, Talakai, Samuel, Cummings, Brown, G Horne, Weir.

Benetton Treviso: Gallagher, Lynagh, Fekitoa, Zanon, Ratave, Umaga, Uren, Spagnolo, Maile, Ferrari, Scrafton, Snyman, Izekor, Zuliani, Negri.

Substitutions: Manfredi, Aminu, Genovese, Favretto, Halafihi, Garbisi, Marin, Odogwu.

Sin box: Odogwu (62), Snyman (69).

Sent: Scrafton (39).