Historic night for Treviso
Benetton Treviso claimed their first ever away victory in the RaboDirect PRO12 with a battling 15-13 victory over Glasgow at the Firhill Arena.
Last Updated: 23/09/11 10:40pm
Benetton Treviso claimed their first ever away victory in the RaboDirect PRO12 with a battling 15-13 victory over Glasgow at the Firhill Arena, with all of their points coming from the boot of fly-half Kristopher Burton.
Warriors were unable to build on last week's impressive win over Leinster, managing to muster a sole Duncan Weir try, along with kicks from Weir and replacement fly-half Scott Wight, who missed a gilt-edged chance late on to steal the win.
It was the hosts who were first to get off the mark, a flowing move creating sufficient space for Weir to squeeze over in the corner for a score which he converted himself.
Treviso fly-half Burton soon had his side on the scoreboard, however, atoning for an early penalty miss with a successful attempt on 20 minutes.
Glasgow's frequent indiscipline at the breakdown was proving to be costly, and their cause was not aided when, midway through the half, they were reduced to 14 men, hooker Pat MacArthur ordered to the sin-bin for excessive use of the boot at a ruck.
From the resulting penalty, Burton reduced the Warriors' lead to a single point with an accurate penalty effort.
Despite having less of the play, it was the Italians who went into the break ahead, a further Burton penalty on the stroke of half-time handing them the advantage.
Stop-start
The second period was a stop-start affair with frequent penalties preventing the game from developing any flow or rhythm and restricting scoring opportunities.
Weir and Burton traded penalties to ensure the Italians maintained their two-point advantage heading into the final quarter, despite having played a period with reduced numbers, with captain Antonio Pavanello serving time in the bin for repeated offences at the breakdown.
The home side did have the chance to regain the lead after a period of sustained pressure, but Weir skewed his penalty attempt horribly wide.
With the Warriors firmly in the ascendancy it was only a matter of time until they had their noses in front once again, and a calmly struck penalty from replacement Wight secured the hosts a slender advantage heading into the closing stages.
Yet that advantage was short-lived, the boot of Burton once again proving to be accurate as he coolly slotted a drop goal.
Wight's attempt to reply with a drop goal of his own flew wide of the mark and it was the former Melrose man who had the last opportunity to snatch the win for his side, but from only 15 metres out his kick sailed wide of the left-hand upright.