Matthews hat-trick helps Glasgow see off Zebre
URC REPORT: Glasgow Warriors hooker Johnny Matthews grabbed a hat-trick during a 40-12 win over Zebre Parma on an emotional night at Scotstoun.
Oli Kebble, Ryan Wilson and Jamie Dobie also crossed as Warriors moved five points behind United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster. Only the width of a post stopped Ross Thompson adding six conversions.
Alessandro Fusco and Luca Andreani scored late in each half to give the Italians something to show for their visit.
There was a poignant precursor as Warriors paid tribute to former player Federico Aramburu, who was shot dead in Paris a fortnight ago at the age of 42. The former Argentina back played for Glasgow during the 2010-11 season.
An Argentina flag flew and a Pumas shirt lay on the pitch during a minute’s applause as a group of the South American’s former team-mates, including Chris Cusiter and Ruaridh Jackson, lined up on the touchline.
Another of Aramburu’s former colleagues, Rob Harley, blew his cheeks out as he battled his emotions during the applause ahead of his 261st game for the club – and possibly his final match at Scotstoun. The 31-year-old announced earlier in the week that he would be departing in the summer.
Warriors wasted no time in atoning for losing a 13-point lead in Cardiff last weekend.
Stafford McDowall’s kick into touch put the visitors on the back foot in the opening seconds and Matthews powered over in the fourth minute after a driving maul.
The front row continued to do the damage as Kebble showed great footwork and strength to go over in the 10th minute.
Wilson added the third when he dived underneath two tackles and stretched to touch down on the line after replacement scrum-half Sean Kennedy had got the ball out of a halted maul in the corner.
Dobie – back on after a head injury assessment – got in on the act when he took the ball out of the back of the scrum and darted between two Zebre players in the 33rd minute.
The Italians had the final say of the half when Fusco intercepted opposite number Dobie’s pass inside his own half and sprinted for the line to make it 28-5 at half-time.
Glasgow could not add to their lead while Potu Leavasa was in the sin bin for a high tackle on Cole Forbes, but Matthews twice touched down during mauls either side of the offence.
Andreani finished well after a line-out in the 79th minute as the Parma men ended on a high.
Player of the match
Matthews fully deserved the accolade after taking his try tally for the season to seven.
The hooker was also just held up near the line before later sealing his treble.
Play of the match
Kebble's dancing feet belied his 6ft4in frame as the prop jumped in and then quickly out to avoid a tackle before fending off another opponent to cross.
The scorers:
For Glasgow:
Tries: Matthews 3, Kebble, Wilson, Dobie
Cons: Thompson 5
For Zebre:
Tries: Fusco, Andreani
Con: Rizzi
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Domingo Miotti, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Kyle Steyn, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Cole Forbes, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Ryan Wilson (captain), 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Rob Harley, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Grant Stewart, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Ally Miller, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Robbie Fergusson.
Zebre Parma: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Junior Laloifi, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Asaeli Tuivuaka, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Taina Fox-Matamua, 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Potu Junior Leavasa, 5 Liam Mitchell, 4 David Sisi (captain), 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Paolo Buonfiglio, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Luca Andreani, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Antonio Rizzi, 23 Michelangelo Biondelli.
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: David Sutherland (Scotland), Graeme Ormiston (Scotland)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Additional Source: @URCOfficial