Glasgow's fringe men completed their Italian job in exacting fashion to breathe new life into their PRO12 play-off ambitions.

The crucial bonus point was banked before half-time at the Stadio Lanfranchi in Parma, with Pete Horne and Pete Murchie leading the charge.

Midfielder Horne and full-back Murchie offered powerful arguments for a Scotland recall as they bagged two opportunist tries apiece to make sure of the victory with plenty of time and effort to spare.

Now Gregor Townsend's Warriors can look forward with bolstered optimism to this weekend's showdown against the Ospreys at Scotstoun.

The travelling Glasgow fans couldn't have dreamed of a brighter start as they watched their heroes surge into a seven-point lead after just two minutes.

Niko Matawalu wrong-footed the Zebre defence with a quick tapped penalty, creating the time and space for Pete Horne to shake off two challenges and plunge over. The stand-off - released from Scotland duties - added the simple conversion.

Luciano Orquera repaired some of the damage with a penalty when Mike Cusack was guilty of sparking a front-row collapse. But the Warriors struck back in quicker style, winger Dan van der Merwe cruising in from 50 metres for touchdown No2 after intercepting a Mirco Bergamasco pass.

Horne was accurate again with the kick - but he was in the bad books within 60 seconds of the restart. He was much too casual with a clearance and home skipper Filippo Cristiano blocked it and won the race to the loose ball. Orquera converted.

It was looking more like pinball than rugby when Murchie instantly restored Glasgow's advantage - giving Horne another formality of a strike.

There was a setback for the Warriors in the 28th minute when prop Alex Allan was yellow carded for side entry to a ruck. Despite being a man down, they continued to dominate in terms of possession and territory. But a combination of impatience and sloppy handling let Zebre off the hook on several occasions.

They kept their composure just before the break, however, as Horne completed his double - capturing the precious bonus point in the process.

Even better was to come when lock Tim Swinson galloped through unchallenged from close range - Horne's conversion opening up a gap of 23 points.

With the outcome settled, the action after the restart was predictably scrappy and disjointed on the gluepot surface.

Glasgow's sense of urgency was diluted and the home side were simply intent on keeping the damage to a minimum.

Warriors were again sin bin victims as Matawalu was unluckily banished for being too early with a block in the wake of a Zebre tapped penalty - though the ball-carrier appeared to deliberately charge into him.

There was then a golden moment in the 65th minute for rookie centre Fraser Lyle, who dived over for a debut try after a trademark sprint by van der Merwe.

March strolled over for his second score three minutes from time - and Will Bordill took the touchdown tally to eight. Connor Braid's two conversions rounded off the rout.

Scorers:

Zebre - Try: Cristiano. Con: Orquera. Pen: Orquera

Glasgow - Tries: Horne 2, Van der Merwe, Murchie 2, Swinson, Lyle, Bordill. Cons: Horne 5, Braid 2.

Zebre: H Daniller; D Berryman, T Iannone, M Bergamasco, G Toniolatti; L Orquera, B Leonard; A Lovotti, O Fabiani, L Redolfini, A Mahu, A Cavalieri, V Bernabo, F Cristiano (capt), J Sarto.

Subs used: L Ferraro, A De Marchi, L Leibson, F Ruzza, R Riccioli, A Chillon, M Pratichetti, E Padovani.

Glasgow: P Murchie; L Jones, R Vernon, F Lyle, D van der Merwe; P Horne, N Matawalu; A Allan, P MacArthur, M Cusack ,T Swinson, A Kellock (capt), J Eddie, T Holmes, L Nakarawa.

Subs used: K Bryce, J Yanuyanutawa, R de Klerk, J Strauss, W Bordill, A Price, C Braid, R Hughes.

Referee: L Colgan (IRFU)