Pro 12: Glasgow Warriors edge past Newport-Gwent Dragons

Duncan Weir: Fly-half's goalkicking proved crucial as Glasgow inched to victory

Glasgow Warriors moved to within a point of Pro 12 leaders Munster with a hard-fought 19-15 win over strugglers Newport-Gwent Dragons.

The narrow win, which came courtesy of a penalty try and 14 points from the boot of fly-half Duncan Weir, maintained the Warriors' unbeaten home record this season.

Neither side found much of a rhythm in attack, with the first-half scoring coming exclusively from tit-for-tat penalties from Weir and Dragons full-back Geraint Rhys Jones.

The visitors took a 9-6 lead into the break and held out against a spell of intense Warriors pressure in the dying moments of the half after Richie Rees was sin-binned.

Nevertheless, the momentum stayed with Glasgow at the start of the second period, with Niko Matawalu being denied a try by the Television Match Official after kicking a loose ball ahead but just failing to get the ball down.

But from the resulting 5m scrum the Warriors went ahead after their pack overpowered the Dragons eight to be awarded the penalty try, which Weir duly converted.

The Dragons still battled on with Rhys Jones kicking his fourth penalty after Glasgow strayed offside to narrow the lead to a single point.

Weir's kicking from hand was key for Glasgow, as he kept the Dragons pinned back in their own half for long spells and they were eventually rewarded with two further penalties.

Even then, the Dragons were not done with a fifth Jones kick cutting the gap again. 

A frantic final few minutes - partly sparked by a Weir handling error in hs own 22 - had to be weathered by the hosts, but they survived to secure the win.

Glasgow lacked their usual fluency in attack but found a way to win as they moved up to third in the table, level on points with both Ulster and Ospreys.

The Dragons picked up a losing bonus point but stay in 11th place, just above Italian side Treviso.