Guinness Pro12: Glasgow Warriors 31-19 Ospreys

Glasgow Warriors returned to winning ways in the Pro12 with a dominant bonus-point victory over the Ospreys.

Bolstered by the return of five internationals, the Warriors showed glimpses of the sparkling rugby that earned them last season's league title.

Sean Lamont, Greg Peterson, Alex Allan and the giant winger Taqele Naiyaravoro all touched down.

The Ospreys initially kept pace through the boot of Dan Biggar, with replacement Dan Baker crossing late on.

The defeat at Scotstoun is their fifth in six Pro12 matches this season.

With a crisp autumnal sun illuminating Scotstoun, the Warriors controlled much of the first half, camping out in the away 22 with effective carries from the likes of Ryan Wilson, the back-row, and the ever-flamboyant lock, Leone Nakarawa.

Duncan Weir slotted an early penalty for the hosts after the Ospreys pack illegally felled a driving maul inside their own 22.

But Wales stand-off Biggar struck two of his own to nudge the visitors ahead after 15 minutes, Weir pushing his second attempt wide.

Warriors scrum-half Mike Blair casts an experienced eye over the scrum at Scotstoun

The Warriors continued to press through their mobile forwards, marshalled well by Mike Blair at scrum-half, with Nakarawa at the forefront.

Where the Fijian's physics-defying arms, waving and swaying like giant strands of spaghetti, are concerned, it is forever a trade-off between glittering try assist and maddening fumble.

The huge lock had coughed up possession on two occasions with ill-advised offloads, but it was his marvellous back-handed flip that sent Lamont crashing past Dan Evans and over the line in the corner on 31 minutes. Weir missed the conversion.

Biggar ensured the Ospreys would regain their slender lead at the break with his third penalty, though Nakarawa, loping menacingly around the midfield almost laid on another in the final minute of the half.

Weir and Biggar traded penalties in the opening minutes of the second half, before Ospreys centre Josh Matavesi was sin-binned for impeding Blair cynically at the breakdown.

The Warriors opted to kick for touch rather than the posts, and were rewarded when USA second-row Peterson, who vowed to "let the beast out" at his new club, capped an all-action first start for the club with a close-range try.

Greg Peterson manages to get the ball over the line to score Glasgow Warriors' second try

Weir converted, and added a further penalty to take Glasgow two scores clear.

Smelling blood, the hosts swept forward, propelled by two rousing Pete Horne surges from deep - the Ospreys infringed again metres from their own line, and substitute Ryan Bevington saw the flash of Peter Fitzgibbons' yellow card.

The Warriors had their third try on 64 minutes, when Wilson and Richie Vernon made strides into the away 22, Nakarawa was stopped just short, but replacement Allan pounced to plunge over.

Weir missed the conversion, and Baker finished a fine counter-attack move with five minutes to play, Biggar adding the extras to bring his side within touching distance of what would have been a flattering losing bonus point.

But in the final play of the match, the hulking Naiyaravoro powered through the Ospreys defence, stretching and slamming the ball over the whitewash to secure Glasgow all five points despite another wayward conversion attempt from Weir.

Teams

Glasgow Warriors: Seymour, Jones, Vernon, Horne, Lamont, Weir, Blair, Reid, MacArthur, Puafisi, Peterson, Nakarawa, Harley, Favaro, Wilson.

Replacements: Naiyaravoro for Jones (57), Johnson for Vernon (75), Price for Blair (66), Allan for Reid (62), Fagerson for Puafisi (62), Cummings for Nakarawa (66), Fusaro for Favaro (56).

Not Used: Malcolm.

Ospreys: D. Evans, Grabham, John, Matavesi, Walker, Biggar, Leonard, James, Baldwin, Jarvis, Ashley, Thornton, Lydiate, Tipuric, King.

Replacements: Spratt for John (70), Baker for Walker (59), Habberfield for Leonard (67), Bevington for James (57), Otten for Baldwin (71), Arhip for Jarvis (50), Jones for Ashley (56).

Not Used: Davies.

Sin Bin: Matavesi (49), Bevington (58).

Attendance: 6,650

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).