Glasgow go top after big win

The Italians started the contest well but after Leone Nakarawa and Kayle van Zyl exchanged tries, the Warriors ran riot at a sold-out Scotstoun Stadium to book their place in the play-offs for a fifth consecutive season.

In Ireland, Francis Saili's late try secured a bonus-point 27-19 win for Munster over Edinburgh at Irish Independent Park as Anthony Foley's side leapfrogged the Scots to move back into the Champions Cup places.

In Italy, Jayden Hayward's last-gasp penalty sealed a famous comeback win for Benetton Treviso against second-placed Connacht, seriously denting their hunt for a Pro12 home semifinal, but ensuring a first ever top-four finish for the Irishmen.

Glasgow Warriors 70-10 Zebre

Adam Ashe, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Glenn Bryce all crossed the whitewash in the first half as the hosts went into the break 35-10 ahead, after Tommaso Boni scored just before the interval.

And Leone Nakarawa completed his hat-trick within 13 minutes of the restart and there were also tries for Greg Peterson, Ali Price and Duncan Weir - who also kicked ten conversions - as Glasgow extended their Pro12 winning streak to nine games.

Connacht's losing bonus point during their dramatic 22-21 loss at Benetton Treviso saw them replace Leinster at the top of the table for an hour but Glasgow's emphatic victory means they are now two points clear at the summit, while opponents Zebre slipped to the foot of the table.

It was the Italians who had the chance to take the lead after just two minutes at Scotstoun but Gonzalo Garcia was unable to convert his penalty from halfway.

Zebre started the contest well and entered Glasgow's 22 on several occasions in the opening ten minutes, without making the territory count.

But it was the hosts who were to grab the first try on the quarter-hour mark through one of their many players set to depart at the end of the season, Nakarawa. Glasgow produced clean ball from a line-out in the Zebre 22 and Nakarawa slipped through a few tackles to score under the posts.

The visitors almost responded immediately though as they broke from the restart and thought they had scored in the corner, only to be denied by the TMO.

However, two minutes later they did reduce the deficit following a maul, as Luke Burgess released Kayle Van Zyl to score in the corner.

Carlo Canna missed the conversion though and it wasn't long before another well-worked move saw Warriors extend their advantage through Ashe.

Glasgow really took control of the contest with a third try as Bryce ran from outside Zebre's 22 and broke tackles before touching down in the corner.

The bonus point was secured minutes later when Naiyaravoro latched onto a loose ball close to the touchline to run in.

And the hosts' made it five tries inside 36 minutes when the ball was moved through the hands before Bryce finished off the beautiful move.

The Italians did grab a second score before the interval as Boni touched down after some good play by Canna, although the flyhalf missed another kick to send the teams in at 35-10.

But Glasgow came out for the second period with all guns blazing and Nakarawa broke a few tackles for his second score just three minutes after the break.

The lock then completed his hat-trick after breaking through more tackles to score under the posts and it was Nakarawa who offloaded to Peterson close to the try-line for his try.

And two minutes later Price gathered the ball deep inside his half before running the length of the pitch to dot down.

Weir had been exceptional with the boot all night and that was recognised with six minutes remaining when Mark Bennett ran in under the posts and gave the ball to the flyhalf for a deserved try.

His conversion made it ten from ten from the tee and the Scotland international received a standing ovation from the home crowd when he was replaced by Finn Russell moments later.

Glasgow turned down a penalty attempt late on in search of their 11th score but in the end had to settle for ten as their remarkable run in the Pro12 continues.

The scorers:

For Glasgow:

Tries: Nakarawa 3, Bryce 2, Ashe, Naiyaravoro, Peterson, Price, Weir

Cons: Weir 10

For Zebre:

Tries: Van Zyl, Boni

Teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Glenn Bryce, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Grayson Hart, 8 Adam Ashe, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Rob Harley (captain), 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Greg Peterson, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Jerry Yanuyanutawa.

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Ali Price, 22 Finn Russell, 23 Tommy Seymour.

Zebre: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Tommaso Boni, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Kayle Van Zyl, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Federico Ruzza, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 6 Emiliano Caffini, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (captain), 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Andrea De Marchi.

Replacements: 16 Bruno Postiglioni, 17 Emiliano Coria, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Giulio Bisegni, 23 Kelly Haimona.

Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)

Munster 27-19 Edinburgh

Alan Solomons' would have been pleased with the way his men started, their huge pack turning the screw immediately, but it was Munster who scored first through centre Rory Scannell.

Jason Tovey replied with a penalty and converted try of his own before Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway extended Munster's advantage.

Tovey and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne pegged back the hosts, but Munster held on and eventually finished with a flourish as Francis Saili bulldozed over from close range to ensure the Irishmen moved into sixth place -level on points with Scarlets - in the Pro12.

Edinburgh came out of the traps like a side intent on securing Champions Cup rugby, seizing on an early Munster knock-on to pile on early pressure - coming within 10metres through a driving maul.

Foley's side though made the visitors pay with their clinical finishing moments later, Tommy O'Donnell and David Foley combined to put Scannell over, with Johnny Holland adding the extras for a 7-0 lead after eight minutes.

It was a double blow for Edinburgh as Blair Kinghorn had to make way for Dougie Fife, but Solomons' men responded well - Tovey nudging a penalty from 15 metres out to get them on the board.

And it was the former Dragons' pivot to the fore again moments later, breaking through the Munster line and showing good pace to cross, adding the extras himself to put the Scots ahead on 20 minutes.

Edinburgh were their own worst enemy, gifting Holland a chance to level proceedings with a penalty of his own just a minute later.

Munster's record try-scorer Zebo then seized on a perfect kick from Conway - albeit with a fortunate bounce - to race over in the corner for Munster's second try within half an hour, but Holland's kick faded away to leave the score at 15-10.

Ireland international CJ Stander went close with nine minutes left in the half before Holland turned creator for Conway, the wing taking a flat Holland pass and dashing over for Munster's third, but the flyhalf again failed to convert.

And Tovey struck back just before half-time to ensure the Capital side went in within a converted score at half-time.

It was the Welshman who again narrowed the deficit just after the break, bringing Edinburgh within four as he brought his tally for the night to 16.

Youngster Magnus Bradbury began to show why he is rated so highly by Solomons, carrying with phenomenal intensity and it was another young Scot who brought Edinburgh within a point with 15 minutes to go - Hidalgo-Clyne banging a penalty over from range to leave the scores at 20-19.

Stander and Saili were prominent as the game ground on and when the former All Black drove over from close range, it clinched a priceless win and a potentially vital bonus point.

The scorers:

For Munster:

Tries: Scannell, Zebo, Conway, Saili

Cons: Holland 2

Pen: Holland

For Edinburgh:

Try: Tovey

Con: Tovey

Pens: Tovey 3, Hidalgo-Clyne

Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Johnny Holland, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander (captain), 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Dave Foley, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.

Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 James Cronin, 18 John Ryan, 19 Robin Copeland, 20 Jack O'Donoghue, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Ronan O'Mahony.

Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Damien Hoyland, 13 Matt Scottt, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tom Brown, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 John Hardie, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Ben Toolis, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ross Ford (captain) 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 John Andress, 19 Alex Toolis, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Chris Dean, 23 Dougie Fife.

Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)

Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips (Ireland), Nigel Correll (Ireland)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Treviso 22-21 Connacht

Peter Robb's second-half score and John Cooney's boot looked to have ensured Connacht kept pace in their quest for a home play-off, but Jayden Hayward banged over his penalty from almost 50 metres to claim Treviso's first win over an Irish province since 2013.

Pat Lam's side looked untroubled as they racked up two scores inside 15 minutes through Fionn Carr and Rory Parata, but the Italians struck back with two first-half scores of their own - through No.8 Abraham Steyn and Luca Morisi to leave the sides poised at 14-12 going into the break.

And it was Marius Goosen's side who struck first after half-time, their dominant front-row milking a penalty try that Hayward converted.

Connacht go into next week's critical clash with Glasgow Warriors knowing only a win will secure a home semifinal and most likely rueing their ragged finishing though doubtless thankful their losing bonus point has secured a first ever play-off spot.

It was a frenetic start in Treviso, both sides looking to run the ball from all corners of the track in almost perfect conditions for champagne rugby.

Treviso were playing with real positivity, but their inaccuracy cost them after six minutes when they were penalised for coming in from the side in sight of the Connacht line.

Their sloppiness at the breakdown handed Lam's side a perfect attacking platform as Jack Carty put them in the corner and after two minutes of sustained pressure, found the breakthrough.

Cooney picked out Jake Heenan close to the ruck, the flank's instinctive give and take putting Parata under the sticks. Cooney knocked over the simple conversion for a 7-0 lead after 11 minutes.

Carr's length-of-the-field break almost immediately led to a second Connacht score, but the winger did not have to wait long to cross - latching onto a perfectly weighted Carty grubber and dotting down. Cooney converted.

It looked ominous for the Italians, but Morisi hit back with a try midway through the half after picking a sharp supporting line - but Hayward was off target with the kick.

Steyn then showed all his strength to bring Treviso right into the match, a huge fend on Tiernan O'Halloran left him in space and he then powered over for his side's second within five minutes of their first.

Hayward shook off his earlier miss to bang over a touchline conversion to leave the sides poised at 14-12 going in for the break.

Treviso had been beginning to turn the screw at scrum-time as the first-half wore on and they made that advantage count five minutes into the second-half, bludgeoning Connacht into submission and forcing a penalty try which Hayward converted to put Treviso ahead for the first time.

Lam's side could not be shackled for too long and despite Connacht consistently getting bettered at set-piece, the Irishmen's free-flowing approach eventually paid off.

O'Halloran's 40 metre break put Connacht deep into Treviso territory and they swept across the field in a lovely team move before working a blind side to perfection, allowing Robb to finish well in the corner. Cooney's conversion did not look the prettiest, but it sneaked over to restore their lead.

It was a scrappy second half and though the likes of Carr continued to threaten, Treviso defended stoically throughout and when they won another scrum penalty on 82 minutes, Hayward showed nerves of steel to send the Italians into euphoria.

The scorers:

For Trevsio:

Tries: Morisi, Steyn, Penalty try 

Cons: Hayward 2

Pen: Hayward

For Connacht:

Tries: Parata, Carr, Robb

Cons: Cooney 3

Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Alberto Sgarbi (captain), 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Abraham Steyn, 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Ornel Gega, 1 Matteo Zanusso.

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Cherif Traorè, 18 Salesi Manu, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Marco Lazzaroni, 21 Alberto Lucchese, 22 Luke McLean, 23 Tommaso Iannone.

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Peter Robb, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Jack Carty, 9 John Cooney, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 Andrew Browne, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney (captain), 1 Ronan Loughney.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 John Muldoon, 21 Coalin Blade, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Robbie Henshaw.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)

Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano (Italy), Stefano Bolzonella (Italy)

TMO: Alan Falzone (Italy)

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