Dragons v Glasgow Warriors Match Report

A late try from winger Ross Wardle which was converted by fullback Rhys Jones saw Newport Gwent Dragons storm over Glasgow to take the win by one point, doing the double over the Scottish side.

Newport Gwent Dragons are the first welsh side to beat Glasgow Warriors this season, as they have previously travelled to Wales and managed the win every time.

Glasgow Warriors came out and were gifted a three minute lead when Robert Harley charged down Tovey’s clearance, Finn Russell then added the conversion.

A few minutes later Tovey and Mark Bennett exchanged penalties taking the score to 3-10. But the men of Gwent managed to pull it back with a lovely try from Owen Evans, who was aided by Andrew Coombs and Matthew Pewtner, with Jason Tovey making the conversions two from two.

30 mins passed and fly-half Jason was helped off the pitch with a limp to be replaced by Dorian Jones. It wasn’t long after when Glasgow Warriors’ scrum half Niko Matawalu stormed through the Dragons defence from his own half and Finn Russell gave the visitors a 17-10 lead from the break, with his conversion.

Early on in the second half the Dragons gave away another penalty, which was within range of the posts. Finn Russell took the kick and extended the Glaswegians lead 10-20, only for young gun Cory Hill to go over the try line soon after, aided by Man of the Match Richie Rees. Fullback Rhys Jones stepped up to take the kick and converted the try.

Glasgow Warriors again attempted to pull away from the home side with another penalty kick giving them a six point advantage, but replacement winger Ross Wardle landed a try in the corner and Rhys Jones added a difficult conversion for the Dragons to take the lead.

The home side then gave away a penalty to the visitors for them to take the long distance penalty and come up short with just minutes to go. But the Dragons defence held out and they came away with the win.

Teams

Newport Gwent Dragons

Rhys Jones, Matthew Pewtner, Pat Leach, Ashley Smith (c), Will Harries, Jason Tovey, Richie Rees; Owen Evans, T. Rhys Thomas, Duncan Bell, Andrew Coombs, Cory Hill, Jevon Groves, Nic Cudd, Lewis Evans.

 

Replacements:  Hugh Gustafson, Phil Price, Bruce Douglas, Matthew Screech, Ieuan Jones, Wayne Evans, Dorian Jones, Ross Wardle.

Glasgow Warriors

Ruardidh Jackson, Lee Jones, Richie Vernon, Mark Bennett, Byron McGuigan, Finn Russell, Niko Matawalu; Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Dougie Hall, Mike Cusack, Leone Nakarawa, Jonny Gray, Robert Harley, Tyrone Holmes, Josh Strauss (c).

 

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid, Jon Welsh, Tom Ryder, Kevin Bryce, Henry Pyrgos, Folau Niua, Rory Hughes.

Man of the Match: Richie Rees

Attendance: 3916