Rory Hughes bagged a double as Glasgow Warriors moved top of the Guinness PRO12 table with a 31-14 bonus-point win over Benetton Treviso at Scotstoun.

Jonny Gray, Mark Bennett, Hughes and Alex Dunbar all crossed for Gregor Townsend’s side in the first half as they wrapped up the four-try bonus point.

The Italians had a penalty try to show for their efforts in the first 40 minutes – Dunbar also sent to the sin bin – but the Scots looked ruthless in attack.

And when man of the match Hughes crossed for his second soon after half-time it looked like the Scottish side might turn the screw and pull away.

However, the Italians – without a win on their travels since the 2012/13 season – refused to buckle and hit back with a Davide Giazzon score shortly after the hour mark while Glasgow debutant Langilangi Haupeakui was in the sin bin.

And the USA international then saw red late on when he received a second yellow for a no-arms tackle to end the match on a sour note for the hosts.

The Warriors have now won their last ten matches against Treviso, whilst the Italians’ most recent success in Scotland was when they beat Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield back in 2012.

So it was of surprise to few that the Warriors came storming out of the blocks and should have had the game’s first try as early as the second minute.

Stuart Hogg collected a clever chip to dive over in the left corner but the TMO spotted that the full-back had grounded the ball before the line and then knocked it on before crossing it.

But that was a temporary stay of execution for the Italians as wave after wave of pressure on the try-line eventually told in the ninth minute when Gray muscled over from close range.

Their second try was not far behind either, a line-out move released Dunbar through the middle and then Bennett cut a fabulous arcing line from left to right to stutter over in the corner.

Russell could not convert this time but at 12-0 the writing appeared to be on the wall for the visitors.

They needed the next score and it duly arrived, with a bit of luck thrown in.

Dean Budd made the break but appeared to have delayed the offload to Alberto Sgarbi too long, but the pass cannoned off the centre’s legs and over the line.

There appeared to be only one winner in the race to the line with Sgarbi certain to score but Dunbar was already committed to the tackle and referee David Wilkinson had little choice but to yellow card the Scotland centre and award a penalty try.

With the simple conversion from Ian McKinley the visitors were within touching distance at 12-7 with a man advantage.

But Townsend’s men came again and despite their numerical disadvantage summoned their third try of the half just before the half-hour mark.

Hughes was the man to go over this time, cutting back onto Henry Pyrgos’ inside ball to coast over under the posts.

And before the break the Warriors had their bonus point and it was Dunbar, back from ten minutes in the sin bin, who collected a loose ball and shrugged off three tacklers to go over.

Russell’s tough conversion bisected the posts as well and at the break Glasgow were 26-7 to the good.

It did not take long after the break for the Warriors to grab a fifth –and it was Hughes again going over in the left corner after Hogg expertly exploited an overlap to release him.

But thereafter the Warriors lost their rhythm after emptying the bench and it was a debut to forget for Haupeakui who received two yellow cards – either side of Giazzon’s score at the back of a driving maul.

It was not the way Townsend would have wanted the game to end but they are top of the standings and well placed to challenge for the title they won for the first time in 2015.

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