Benetton Treviso 8 - 13 Glasgow: Glasgow edge closer to play-off spot

Sidelined since the World Cup due to a shoulder injury and subsequent operation, the Canadian international announced his return to action in spectacular fashion, coming off the bench with only 15 minutes left and touching down some ten minutes later to settle a titanic struggle.

Sean Lineen’s men remain in fourth place with a four-point advantage over fifth-placed Scarlets and just one game to go. They have also closed the gap on third-placed Munster to just a point.

Should they leapfrog the Irish province on the final day, they would avoid the Herculean task of facing Leinster in Dublin, and instead travel to Wales to meet the Ospreys.

Not a bad day’s work then, and especially for Van Der Merwe, who said: “I knew I was going to score a try in this game. You have to believe it. If you don’t, you’re never going to get there. That is something I have grown up with.”

He continued: “I had spoken to Henry [Pyrgos] in the game, knowing that he would be the nine in the closing minutes. I told him to keep his ears open, that I would like to have a run and back myself. Lucky enough I found the gap and made it to the end.”

Van Der Merwe’s try was a thing of sublime beauty, a rarity in this dogfight. With Glasgow trailing 8-6 and the clock winding down, the ever-hungry wing picked a superb line to crash through two out-of-position Treviso forwards, before using every ounce of his speed and strength to fend off Brendan Williams on his way to the line.

Ruaridh Jackson converted and, for the first time, there was expectation, rather than hope. Up to that point, it had seemed all Glasgow’s efforts would prove in vain as Treviso threw the kitchen sink and all in pursuit of one final home victory.

They led from the tenth minute, livewire full-back Williams crossing the chalk for the opening try after a dash from 40 metres out.

Glasgow’s response was careful and considered, but a bit one-paced. They spent vast portions of the first half going from side to side with no cutting edge, and regularly allowed frustration to get the better of them.

Captain Al Kellock was sent to the sin bin on the half-hour along with Treviso stand-off Edoardo Gori after a free-for-all. Kellock had reason to be aggrieved, however. He said afterwards, “It was one of the few times I hadn’t actually done anything wrong.”

The score, at that stage, was 5-3 in Treviso’s favour, Glasgow pulling back three points thanks to a penalty by Duncan Weir, who had a solid, if unspectacular game with the boot.

The most impressive punt of the game, in fact, came from Stuart Hogg, whose huge first-half clearance earned his side 80 metres at a time when they were severely under the cosh.

Hogg was Glasgow’s best performer. Up to the introduction of Van Der Merwe, he looked just about the only visiting back capable of punching a hole in the well-organised home defence.

One lightning break on the hour mark should have resulted in a try for Alex Dunbar, and would have done but for an outstanding last-ditch tackle by Burton. Glasgow earned a penalty for their troubles and Weir’s cool strike on the angle nudged them ahead for the first time.

Ten minutes later, the lead again changed hands, Burton scoring with a penalty after a rolling maul had brought Glasgow to their knees.

Jackson was brought on in an attempt to salvage the game for Glasgow, but it seemed it wasn’t going to be their day when he struck the post with a penalty on his first involvement.

Cue Van Der Merwe’s explosive finish, and a ringing endorsement from a visibly relieved Sean Lineen.

“I thought it was pretty special,” he remarked. “You live for these moments when you come away from home. They’re a good team, and difficult to break down. We didn’t get much going our way in terms of getting quick ball, but I was really pleased with the way we regrouped, came back, and eventually got that try.”

Scorers: Treviso: Try: Williams. Pen: Burton. Glasgow: Try: Van Der Merwe. Con: Jackson. Pens: Weir.

Treviso: L McLean (F Semenzato 63); T Iannone, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, B Williams; K Burton, E Gori; M Rizzo (M Muccignat 73), F Sbaraglini (E Ceccato 63), L Cittadini (I Fernandez Rouyet 73); A Pavanello (capt) (F Minto 10), C Van Zyl; M Vosawai (S Picone 46), A Zanni, R Barbieri.

Glasgow: S Hogg; T Seymour (DTH van der Merwe 64), A Dunbar, G Morrison, C Shaw; D Weir (R Jackson 73), C Cusiter (H Pyrgos 51); R Grant, P MacArthur, M Cusak (M Low 41); R Gray, A Kellock (T Ryder 60); R Harley, C Fusaro (J Beattie 64), J Barclay.