Glasgow stretch lead in URC after Benetton win

United Rugby Championship

Glasgow (7) 31

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

Benetton 10 (10)

Tries: Odogwu Con: Smith Pen: Smith.

Glasgow Warriors stretched their lead at the top of the United Rugby Championship with a bonus-point win over Benetton at Scotstoun.

Paolo Odugwu's try for the Italian side was cancelled out by Johnny Matthews in an underwhelming first half, with Rhyno Smith's penalty giving the visitors a 10-7 lead at the break.

Fergus Watson's try on his first Glasgow appearance put the home side in front before scores from Max Williamson, Seb Stephen and Sam Talakai helped Warriors pull away and move nine points clear of Stormers, who play Edinburgh on Saturday.

Next up for Glasgow is a Champions Cup last-16 showdown with the Bulls at Scotstoun on Saturday 4 April.

Benetton have struggled for consistency this season but they struck first when Odugwu blasted straight through a soft tackle from Matthews to go in under the posts.

Matthews and Odugwu collided again soon after when the Benetton centre went in high and made head-to-head contact. Even though Odugwu came off worse from the tackle, being left prone on the floor, he was correctly shown a yellow card.

Warriors were struggling to find their rhythm, with dropped balls and injuries punctuating much of the first half.

They found a way on to the scoreboard towards the end of the half, and even then it was messy.

An overthrow from a five-metre line-out landed on the grass and Adam Hastings reacted first to retain possession.

Glasgow had a couple of cracks at the Benetton line before Matthews was adjudged, after a lengthy check by the television match official, to have grounded for the try.

Hastings' conversion levelled things up, only for Rhyno Smith to knock over a penalty with the final kick of the half to ensure Benetton led by three at the break.

Franco Smith's half-time team talk seemed to waken Glasgow up. A burst from Sione Vailanu took them into the red zone, Hastings came back to the short side and spun the ball wide to Watson who finished impressively to mark his debut with a try.

Benetton thought they had regained the lead when Smith darted through a gap to score after a mix-up in midfield between Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, but the score was ruled out by the TMO for a knock-on earlier in the move.

Watson was impressing on his first senior outing and he broke through after coming off his wing to take an inside ball from Hastings.

The 20-year-old was hauled down just short but Glasgow continued to hammer at the door until Williamson powered over from close range.

A brilliant 50-22 from Ben Afshar gave Glasgow an attacking five-mtre line-out, and when the catch and drive was textbook, Substitute Stephen had the simple task of dotting down to secure the four-try bonus-point.

Another substitute, prop Talakai, rumbled over late on to add some gloss to the scoreline as Glasgow finished strongly to come through a tricky challenge and strengthen their position at the top of the table.

Glasgow Warriors: Schickerling, Matthews, Richardson, Oguntineju, Williamson, Ferrie, Vailanu, Duncan; Afshar, Hastings, Smith, Tuipulotu (capt), Jones, Watson, McKay.

Replacements: Stephen, Bhatti, Talakai, Samuel, Craig, Fraser, Oliver, Lancaster.

Benetton: Aminu, Bernasconi, Gallorini, N Cannone, Ruzza, Izekor, Zuliani, Fa'aso'o'; Garbisi, Marin, Smith, Medina, Odogwu, Lynagh, Gallagher.

Replacements: Gasperini, Gallo, Pasquali, Scrafton, Midena, Kingi, Uren, Drago.