TALK about Glasgow Warriors and most people think about their star-studded back division and the way they can cut teams apart. This time, however, it was the unsung forwards who did the job for them as they moved back into a play-off place in the Guinness PRO12.

They had gone into the game knowing they needed both to win and claim the scoring bonus point to overtake the Scarlets and put themselves back into the top four. Though the rain threatened to ruin their night, they came good in the end.

In that weather, it was hard for either side to play the kind of fast, handling game that both prefer, but Glasgow had the better pack and that was enough to win them the game. In the end, the possession and territory statistics in their favour were almost embarrassing, though on a night like that it was almost harder to play with the ball than without it.

The line-out drive was a potent weapon all night, but though their big runners did their job effectively enough, it was Tommy Seymour, the wing, who provided the cutting edge with his ability to pick his line coming from deep causing all sorts of problems for the visiting defence and playing a direct role in two of the tries.

The pattern was set early as Glasgow started fiercely, going through the phases from the kick-off and soon Josh Strauss, the flanker, was on a canter to the line that was stopped only a yard short. Simone Favaro was even more unlucky when he was within inches of scoring.

They did not let the frustration distract them, though. Instead they simply went back to basics again, cycling through the phases without allowing Cardiff to relieve pressure until eventually the defence had to crack with Pat MacArthur, the hooker, forcing his way over.

For all that, since Cardiff had barely touched the ball, they were probably reasonably pleased that they held the Scots to just one try in the opening quarter. They must have assumed their chance would come if only they got some ball – which is exactly how it turned out with Alex Cuthbert, the wing, put clear forcing a magnificent scramble defence to knock the ball from his grasp.

With the rain increasingly a problem for handling, Glasgow had to tighten things up, relying more on the forwards to do the job. They were again within inches from a line-out drive but then lost ball in midfield to hand Cardiff a reprieve, though their scrum power did earn a penalty under the posts that Finn Russell kicked to edge them further ahead.

Which was just as well as Russell tried a trick too far in his own 22, with his little chip kick hall charged down by Steve Shingler, his opposite number, and Blaine Scully, the Cardiff wing, first to the loose ball to run in a try totally against the run of play.

Glasgow had enjoyed about 80 percent of the first-half possession but were only three points ahead at the break and soon level as they gave away an early penalty for Shingler to kick.

Normal service was restored when a set-piece move saw Seymour come off his wing to carve the defence open and though Alex Dunbar in support was stopped short, Peter Murchie, the full-back, picked up and went over.

That was soon even better for Glasgow as Seymour again picked his line perfectly, this time running off Ali Price, the scrum-half. Though he was again stopped, Russell slipped the ball wide and a classic give-and-take from Mark Bennett put Murchie in for his second touchdown.

With Russell converting both, there was, for the first time, a spot of daylight between the sides and Glasgow could start thinking about the bonus point instead of just winning the game.

It duly came courtesy of the forwards as they won a series of penalties to get to a line out in the corner. As they had done all game, the maul followed and this time there was no stopping the drive as James Malcolm, the replacement hooker, got himself in at the back to touch down for the try that really mattered.

Cardiff did have enough time left to get another consolation try, through replacement wing Rhun Williams, but that was about it as Glasgow ran the clock down.

Glasgow Warriors: Tries: MacArthur, Murchie (2), Malcolm. Cons: Russell (3). Pen: Russell.

Cardiff Blues: Tries: Scully, R Williams. Con: Shingler. Pen: Shingler.

Glasgow Warriors: P Murchie; T Seymour, M Bennett, A Dunbar (R Clegg, 70), L Jones (S Lamont, 61); F Russell, A Price (G Hart, 66); G Reid (A Allan, 53), P MacArthur (J Malcolm, ), D Rae (Z Fagerson, 53), T Swinson, J Gray (C), J Strauss, S Favaro (R Harley, 60), R Wilson (A Ashe, 51).

Cardiff Blues: M Morgan; A Cuthbert (R Williams, 61), R Lee-Lo, W Halaholo (N Robinson, 60), B Scully; S Shingler, L Williams (T Williams, 51); R Gill (B Thyer, 53), K Dacey (M Rees, 69), A Peikrishvili (S Andrews, 62), M Cook, J Down (BJ Edwards, 74), E Jenkins (J Hoeata, 29), S Warburton (C), J Navidi.

Referee: A Brace (Ireland)

Attendance: 7,251