A clinical performance for Glasgow defeats Aironi
Glasgow 29 Aironi 6
Glasgow took a big step to making the Rabo Direct playoffs with a clinical performance against an Aironi side who never got on terms.
The visitors were unable to cope with the power of the Glasgow pack in the set piece and 15 points from the boot of Duncan Weir meant the only disappointment of the night was they did not clinch a try bonus point.
From the kick off Aironi put themselves under pressure and were penalised at the first scrum for Weir to open the scoring.
The Glasgow forwards piled on the pressure, beating the first up tackles and forcing Aironi into desperate defence and after Tommy Seymour and Ryan Grant were held short, the inevitable penalty came and Weir had no problem doubling the score.
Glasgow had most of the possession and territory which came from a total domination in the set piece and Weir landed his third penalty after the visitors’ scrum disintegrated.
Finally Aironi got hands on the ball, a Luciano Orquera chip forced Henry Pyrgos into giving away the penalty and the Italian number 10 got his side on the board.
Orquera repeated the dose five minutes later to reduce the gap to three points but with five minutes to go to the break Glasgow got the try they needed.
Pyrgos held up the ball beautifully for Seymour to take a great angle and slice through the defence to score at the posts.
Weir converted but in the final minute had his clearance kick charged down by Orquera and Glasgow ended the half scrambling clear but 10 points ahead.
Weir extended that lead four minutes into the second half and the Italians were again unable to get any sort of momentum in the face of fierce Glasgow defence.
The determination of the home side to collect the bonus was obvious as they went for the corner from several kickable penalties.
After misfiring on a couple, the try came as a drive on Tom Ryder’s line out take saw Grant emerge with the ball and the score.
Aironi were becoming frustrated as was referee Dudley Phillips and when Matias Aguero was binned, Glasgow took advantage of the extra man for David Lemi to put full back Peter Murchie over in the corner.
Glasgow threw everything at the Aironi line in the final four minutes and their frustration was clear at the final whistle that the bonus had eluded them in a match they had dominated.
