Gloucester went on a Heineken Cup points blitz to destroy minnows Viadana in Italy.

The Premiership leaders scored 12 tries to register their highest-ever European Cup score to take a major stranglehold of Pool Two.

England prospect James Simpson-Daniel led the way with a devastating hat-trick as Gloucester opened up an impregnable 45-14 half-time lead.

He was joined in the try feast by Terry Fanolua, who also scored a treble, as Viadana were cut to pieces by Gloucester's superior pace and rapier finishing.

There was also a try-double for Henry Paul and other scores for Marcel Garvey, Jake Boer, James Forrester and Rodrigo Roncero as the Cherry and Whites took almost every opportunity handed to them.

To be fair to Viadana, who were led superbly by flanker Matt Phillips and full-back Casper Steyn, they never lost heart or gave up the cause and were rewarded with four tries of their own.

Steyn led the recovery when he touched down twice while Mattia Dolcetto and Gordon Frasca also scored in the second half.

But Gloucester's dominance was virtually total and Ludovic Mercier landed 10 of the 12 conversions as Gloucester finished with a flourish to ease to a thumping victory.

Teams:

Viadana: Steyn, Dolcetto, Frasca, Bettati, Pedrazzi, Pickering, Aio, Savi, Jimenez, Bocchini, Denhardt, Bezzi, Phillips, A. Persico, Farani..

Not Used: De Bellis, Spina, Gumiero, Avigni, Crane, Accorsi, Robertson.

Tries: Steyn 2, Dolcetto, Frasca.

Cons: Steyn 4.

Gloucester: Paul, Garvey, Fanolua, Todd, Simpson-Daniel, Mercier, Gomarsall, Roncero, Fortey, Deacon, Pearce, Cornwell, Boer, Buxton, Forrester.

Not Used: Amor, Beim, Stuart-Smith, Delport, Woodman, Azam, Eustace.

Tries: Paul 2, Garvey, Fanolua 3, Simpson-Daniel 3, Roncero, Boer, Forrester.

Cons: Mercier 10.

Att: 2,000

Ref: Simon McDowell (Ireland).

Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Melville said: "I was pleased with the performance. It was always going to be a difficult place to come to, and I thought they did well.

"I was particularly pleased with James Simpson-Daniel and Marcel Garvey on the wings, and captain Jake Boer led from the front."