Dragons see off Glasgow

The Dragons secured their first win of the Magners League season by defeating Glasgow 23-11 at Rodney Parade.

The hosts erased the misery of a thumping defeat by Connacht last week by outscoring the Scottish side two tries to one.

First-half tries from Robin Sowden-Taylor and Aled Brew did the damage as the Dragons roared into a comfortable advantage, leaving Glasgow in trouble.

But it came at a cost for the Welsh side as inspirational fly-half Jason Tovey, who booted the opening penalty of the day, was forced off after only eight minutes with a leg problem.

Glasgow counterpart Ruaridh Jackson levelled the match with his opening penalty but, from there, the Dragons were in charge.

Penalties

Tovey's replacement Matthew Jones kicked two penalties and converted both of the home tries.

The first came via a great rolling maul from an attacking line-out in the Glasgow 22 that saw flanker Sowden-Taylor touch down under a pile of bodies.

And, after another good move down the left wing into the Glasgow 22, a short pass from a ruck saw wing Brew jump past two tacklers from short range to score.

It did not help Glasgow's cause either that big second row Tom Ryder was sent to the sin-bin on 31 minutes for killing the ball at a ruck.

The Dragons almost took advantage of the extra man when flanker Dan Lydiate saw a gap and sprinted through to within sight of the Glasgow line. The ball was then recycled but, with another try begging, Jones' cross-kick was just too strong for an unmarked Brew to get before it went dead.

It did not seem like the same Warriors team which beat Irish province Leinster by three points at Firhill nine days ago, although number eight Richie Vernon put in a lively display.

Try

It was Vernon who set Glasgow back on the upward curve when he ran 25 metres towards the home line before giving big second row Richie Gray, on his shoulder, an inside pass to cross.

Glasgow continued to push the pace of their game up and, consequently, put the Welsh side under the cosh.

Jackson pointed towards the posts from five metres inside his own half to fire a 55-metre penalty, although Glasgow coach Sean Lineen then decided to replace him as soon as the ball had landed.

Nevertheless, with 20 minutes left and 12 points adrift, Glasgow had given themselves a slim chance of mounting a comeback.

But those hopes disappeared as wing DTH van der Merwe was sin-binned with six minutes to go for aiming a punch towards Brew as some unnecessary niggle erupted.

Glasgow did not get close again and the Welsh support in the 5,028 crowd went home satisfied.