Nikola Matawalu scored the game’s only try as in-form Glasgow Warriors maintained their strong start to the GUINNESS PRO12 with a hard-fought 17-9 win over Benetton Treviso.

The Italians remain winless this campaign but they will take much heart from their showing in slippery conditions at Scotstoun as three penalties from Jayden Hayward kept them close throughout.

Matawalu’s superb first-half score, plus four penalties from the boot of Peter Horne meant that a much-changed Warriors side never trailed but failed to cut loose against stubborn opposition.

Replacement prop Albert Anae saw red late on for the visitors for a punch and after just missing out on a losing bonus point the Italians now must contemplate a 12-match losing run in all competitions.

The only Warriors remaining from their win over Montpellier last time out were Josh Strauss, Chris Fusaro and Pat MacArthur, due to injuries and international call-ups, but victory keeps them second in the table with still only one defeat to their name this season.

In the wet weather both sides struggled to settle in the early skirmishes, the closest Glasgow coming to points being a Peter Murchie long-range penalty that drifted wide.

But while we had to wait until almost the 20th minute for the game to burst to life, the first, and ultimately only, score of the night was more than worth the wait.

A fantastic move down the left involving Murchie and Ryan Wilson ended up with Fijian scrum-half Matawalu going over for a fantastic try in the corner.

Horne’s conversion was pushed just wide but the Warriors appeared to be hitting top gear and they nearly had the game’s second try moments later after a fine break from Leone Nakarawa.

The giant Fijian lock was hauled down just short of the line but the hosts won a penalty and this time Horne made no mistake to open up an eight-point lead.

However, any thoughts of one-way traffic from then on at Scotstoun were put on hold as a long-distance penalty for the Italians was impressively slotted by New Zealand-born full-back Hayward.

Glasgow were experiencing some dominance in the set-piece however and the scrum won a penalty with half-time approaching, which set up a series of five-metre lineouts for the home side.

The Italian defence held firm in the face of mounting pressure but the rising penalty count eventually took its toll and Italy centre Michele Campagnaro found himself sent to the sin bin and from the subsequent penalty Horne this time opted for the posts and gave his side an 11-3 lead.

But no sooner had the Warriors re-established an eight-point advantage, they were pegged back once more, Matawalu punished for a high tackle and Hayward made the long-range kick look easy to make it 11-6 at the break.

After the interval the Warriors were looking to re-establish a lead of more than one score but Horne’s left boot misfired with an early penalty fading wide of the uprights.

Meanwhile up the other end Hayward continued to impress from the tee and another long-range effort from the full-back squeezed between the posts and all of a sudden the visitors were within two points at 11-9.

The home fans were growing restless and after Glasgow gave away another needless penalty Hayward had the chance to put the visitors in front for the first time but this time he faltered and the Warriors survived.

As the game entered the final quarter the Warriors were still struggling to implement their running game but they retained dominance at scrum time and after the front row won yet another penalty Horne this time held his nerve to slot his third kick of the night.

With a bit of breathing space at 14-9 Warriors were now looking to kill the game off and they received a boost when Anae was given a straight red card for punching.

But in the final minutes, despite the man disadvantage, Treviso refused to buckle in defence until a late Horne penalty robbed them of a losing bonus point.

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