Glasgow lead URC after narrow five-point triumph over Zebre

Glasgow maintained their momentum in the United Rugby Championship with a battling 26-21 win over strugglers Zebre in Parma to move top of the table.

The Warriors, chasing a fourth straight URC win, were awarded a penalty try in the 18th minute after a rolling maul was brought down by the Italians, with Zebre number eight David Odiase then shown a yellow card. Gregor Hiddleston was then driven over in the 25th minute following a line-out.

Zebre, beaten 47-10 in Glasgow last time out, got on the board with a close-range score from Franco Carrera, but Hiddleston swiftly got his second try in the 33rd minute following another strong maul, with George Horne again adding the extras as the visitors took a 21-7 lead into half-time.

Glasgow fly-half Adam Hastings was shown a yellow card early in the second half after head contact in a heavy tackle on Albert Batista. Zebre made their advantage count as Giulio Bertaccini barged across in the 48th minute.

The Warriors thought they had a bonus-point try following a drive over in the 51st minute, but the TMO ruled there was no clear grounding and Zebre second row Carrera was then also sent to the sin bin.

Zebre received a third yellow card in the 64th minute for Leonard Krumov for bringing down an advancing maul and Hastings made them pay when he went over in the corner.

Winger Lorenzo Pani scored a third try for the hosts on the breakaway with 10 minutes left, which Giovanni Montemauri converted to cut the deficit to five points, but the Warriors dug in to see out the closing stages.

Josh McNally’s second-half try earned Cardiff a hard-fought 14-8 victory over Benetton.

Cardiff returned to domestic matters after back-to-back Challenge Cup fixtures and were eager to respond after a heavy defeat at Exeter.

Two penalties by Callum Sheedy gave Cardiff a narrow half-time lead at Arms Park and, despite a late rally by Benetton, McNally’s 47th-minute score proved the difference.

After a much-changed team had lost to Exeter, Cardiff were determined to respond and a successful penalty by Sheedy got the ball rolling in the 12th minute.

Another penalty by Sheedy made it 6-0 at the break and McNally crashed over seven minutes into the second half.

Cardiff boasted an 11-3 advantage at this stage and Ioan Lloyd’s penalty extended their cushion, while Benetton’s late rally could not deny the Welsh outfit a seventh victory of the campaign.