Glasgow Warriors 26-5 Zebre

Chris Fusaro was among Glasgow's try scorers

Glasgow Warriors returned to the top of the Pro12 with a bonus-point victory over Zebre.

DTH van der Merwe crossed twice in the first half, with Chris Fusaro and Kevin Bryce also going over for Gregor Townsend's side.

Zebre had Alberto Chillo, Matteo Pratichetti and Mauro Bergamasco sin-binned in the first half.

Their discipline improved after the break and Dion Berryman touched down for a consolation try.

And Glasgow replacements Glenn Bryce and Will Bordill were yellow-carded in a rain-soaked second period that failed to match the first.

Munster and Ulster both have the opportunity to move above the Warriors over the weekend.

Early Glasgow pressure gave an indication of how the opening half would play out and yielded a try for Van der Merwe.

Niko Matawalu and Rossouw de Klerk stretched Zebre and the Canadian crossed, leaving Scotland fly-half Horne a straightforward conversion.

Frustration and indiscipline crept into the visitors' play and scrum-half Chillo was sin-binned for prodding an opponent with his foot from a standing position.

Indiscipline plagued Zebre at Scotstoun

The Warriors forced another try following a rolling maul, Fusaro awarded the score after the referee consulted the television match official.

Horne, who had a head knock, converted but soon made way for Richie Vernon.

Gaps continued to appear in the Zebre defence and Kevin Bryce's powerful running was rewarded with his first Glasgow try, Connor Braid adding the extras.

Matteo Pratichetti and then Mauro Bergamasco were yellow-carded after the referee took exception to some of Zebre's tackling.

Matawalu then touched down in the left corner but television replays revealed his foot had been in touch.

Howeve, Van der Merwe ensured a bonus point for the hosts with his second try of the evening, grounding in the same corner as Matawalu. Braid missed the conversion.

Back to a full compliment, Zebre had the chance to register their first points with a penalty but Mirco Bergamasco's kick was wide.

However, Berryman latched on to Giulio Toniolatti clever grubber kick to cross as the rain lashed down in Glasgow's west end. Bergamasco's kicking was wayward once again.

Glasgow's first-half rhythm deserted them somewhat, with Ryan Grant, Rossouw de Klerk and captain Al Kellock being substituted in the course of the second period.

And Peter Murchie's replacement Glenn Bryce was yellow-carded shortly after coming on.

Matawalu limped off and Sean Lamont followed the scrum-half on a stretcher after twisting his knee.

Bordill became the fifth player sin-binned after tussling with Mauro Bergamasco but Zebre could not make a further dent in their deficit in the closing stages.

Glasgow Warriors: Peter Murchie; Lee Jones, Sean Lamont, Connor Braid, DTH van der Merwe; Peter Horne, Niko Matawalu; Ryan Grant, Kevin Bryce, Rossouw de Klerk, Rob Harley, Al Kellock (capt), Adam Ashe, Chris Fusaro, Josh Strauss.

Replacements: Dougie Hall, Alex Allan, Zander Fagerson, James Eddie, Will Bordill, Ali Price, Richie Vernon, Glenn Bryce.

Zebre: Giulio Toniolatti; Dion Berryman, Mirco Bergamasco, Matteo Pratichetti, David Odiete; Edoardo Padovani, Alberto Chillo; Andrea De Marchi, Oliviero Fabiani, Lorenzo Romano, Quintin Geldenhuys, Andrei Mahu, Ruben Riccioli, Mauro Bergamasco (capt), Valerio Bernabo.

Replacements: Luciano Leibson, Andrea Lovotti, Luca Redolfini, Filippo Gerosa, Renato Giammarioli, Brendon Leonard, Luciano Orquera, Gonazlo Garcia.