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Zebre (6) 6

Pen: Da Re 2

Glasgow Warriors (0) 14

Glasgow Warriors secured a home quarter-final in the United Rugby Championship with a workmanlike victory away to Zebre.

The second-bottom hosts threatened a first win over the reigning champions as they led through two Giacomo da Re penalties at the break.

Visiting head coach Franco Smith had made 10 changes from the side that suffered a heavy Investec Champions Cup defeat by Leinster last time out, but their struggles continued in Parma.

They failed to score in Dublin and were to go another 42 minutes before they managed to get the scoreboard ticking in Italy.

After some untidy play by both sides, fly-half Da Re had given the hosts an eighth-minute lead with a penalty in front of the posts.

Zebre thought they had the opening try when Giovanni Licata went over under the posts, but the replay showed the number eight had lost hold of the ball before touching down.

Moments later, centre Scott Gregory also let the ball slip out his grasp as he crossed the line, but the home side did stretch their lead on the half-hour mark through another Da Re penalty.

Glasgow’s 24-match winning run over Zebre was seriously under threat as the second half began.

However, home lock Matteo Canali was yellow-carded for a head-first challenge on Sebastian Cancelliere and Glasgow took immediate advantage, with full-back McKay finding the corner and Tom Jordan adding the conversion.

McDowell added another try under the posts seconds before Canali’s return, with Jordan kicking the extras to make it 14-6.

Zebre would hold their own again with both sides back to full strength, but the damage had been done.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith: “We know how much Zebre have improved.

“They slowed down our breakdowns slow made it difficult for us to create momentum, so all credit to them. “

Zebre: Prisciantelli, Trulla, Paea, Mazza, S Gesi, Da Re, Fusco, Fischetti, Di Bartolomeo, Hasa, Canali, Krumov, Ruggeri, Stavile Bravin, Licata.

Replacements: Bigi, Buonfiglio, Pitinari, Nasove, Ferrari, Garcia, Morisi, Gregory.

Glasgow Warriors: McKay, Cancelliere, Smith, McDowall, Steyn, Hastings, Dobie, Bhatti, Hiddleston, RIchardson, Oguntibeju, Samuel, Ferrie, Vailanu, Mann.

Replacements: Matthews, Schickerling, Talakai, Williamson, Darge, Kennedy, Jordan, Cordero.

Aston Villa kept themselves firmly in the race for Champions League qualification with a statement win over fellow European hopefuls Newcastle United.

Unai Emery’s side ran out 4-1 winners with a scintillating display at Villa Park to move level on points with Nottingham Forest in fifth and only two behind third-placed Newcastle.

A fifth consecutive league win was the perfect response to exiting the Champions League midweek as Villa fight to return to Europe’s premier club competition next season.

“Villa have destroyed Newcastle,” former Everton midfielder Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“A lot of teams are beginning to wilt at this stage of the season. Aston Villa aren’t. They are looking very, very strong. “

Speaking on Sky Sports, ex-Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp added: “Aston Villa dismantled the in-form team in the Premier League. From minute one, they were excellent.

“Almost a managerial masterclass, from the team he [Unai Emery] picked, the style they played, the substitutions he brought on. Everything he did tonight he got right. “

Next up for Villa is a trip to Manchester City, another side battling to make the top five.

“Belief and showing our capacity – we did it today,” Emery told BBC Match of the Day.

“Tuesday is another test and another challenge for the team and the club. Man City is another huge test. “

City kept themselves in the Champions League places courtesy of a 2-0 win at Everton.

But with just five points separating Newcastle and Chelsea in seventh – a gap that could be cut to two if the Blues win at Fulham on Sunday – the top-five race looks set to go down to the wire.

As such, having spent a large portion of the season in the top three, Nottingham Forest could be sixth by the time they kick off at Tottenham on Monday night.

As many as 11 European places are up for grabs and there will definitely be a minimum of eight teams – up from the usual seven – playing in Europe next season, but things could change in the coming weeks.

It means Crystal Palace down in 12th still have something to play for.

Depending on how things pan out this season there will be between eight and 11 teams from the Premier League taking part in Europe next season.

A minimum of five of those will be in the Champions League, which is higher than the usual four because of England’s performance in Uefa’s coefficient rankings.

The maximum number of Premier League teams who could be competing in the Europa League is three.

Two places will likely go to the team who finishes sixth and the FA Cup winners.

However, if the cup winners have already secured a European place it will then go to the next highest placed side that has not qualified for Europe.

There will be one Conference League place awarded to a Premier League team.

Currently, that will go to Carabao Cup winners Newcastle, but that could change if Eddie Howe’s side qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League.

As Newcastle currently sit inside the top four that looks likely.

This could happen, but it is highly improbable.

It would require Arsenal to win the Champions League, Manchester United or Tottenham to win the Europa League and Chelsea to lift the Conference League trophy, and all three winners to finish outside the top six.

England’s Ben Proud beat compatriot Jacob Mills to claim the men’s 50m freestyle title at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships.

Mills, 17, had qualified fastest for the one-length sprint final in 21. 96 seconds but Olympic silver medallist Proud raised his game to defend his title in London.

Proud won the final in 21. 67s, with Mills second in 21. 99 and Alexander Painter third in 22. 01.

“I’m really pleased with that,” said Proud. “I got everything I wanted.

“Swimming under pressure and it’s not often it comes from a 17-year-old. “

Mills said racing Proud had been an “honour” but a “few things went wrong” for him and gave him “some things to work on”.

Abbie Wood won the women’s 200m individual medley title by beating Katie Shanahan.

Wood claimed victory in a personal best of two minutes, 08. 85secs as Shanahan finished second in 2:09. 88 and Leah Schlosshan third in 2:13. 14.