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January 05, 2008Glasgow Warriors 16 - 18 DragonsCeltic League match played at Firhill on Friday January 4th 2008 | 12 comments
 Sam Pinder scored Glasgow's only try Glasgow were floored again by the Dragons at Firhill as they suffered a nightmare start to 2008. Warriors were looking to kick-start their Magners League campaign but for the seventh time in eight games between the sides, it was the Newport troops who came out on top. The sides went into the match on the back of contrasting recent fortunes. Glasgow were smarting from the last-gasp narrow defeats at the hands of French giants Biarritz in France and local rivals Edinburgh in the festive showdown at Murrayfield. Dragons, on the other hand, travelled north in buoyant mood in the wake of their surprise triumph over Llanelli Scarlets last time out. It was the home side who drew early encouragement when World Cup stand-off Dan Parks confidently slotted a penalty in the third minute for offside at a midfield ruck. Dragons continued to look jittery, having had only a handful of days respite following the Scarlets encounter. And they fell further behind in the sixth minute when Parks was again on target. His second strike acted as a wake-up call for the Gwent brigade and they powered their way back into the contest with a fine try by flanker Joe Bearman after a concerted spell of pressure in the danger zone. Ceri Sweeney followed up with an accurate conversion to enable the Dragons to sneak in front midway through the half. Sweeney jumped back into the spotlight on the half-hour mark to clip over a penalty to stretch the lead of the Dragons. Both teams carved out chances in the approach to the interval, but the respective marking proved more than adequate. Glasgow's efforts to get back on terms in the opening stages of the second half proved fruitless. Their plight deepened in the 51st minute when Sweeney thumped over his second penalty to widen the gap to seven points. Warriors awoke from their slumbers to level the tussle midway through the half. Scrum-half Sam Pinder was in the right place at the right time to reach the line in typically sniping fashion following slick inter-passing among the home ranks. Parks added the extra points to set up a fascinating final quarter. Glasgow should have seized the initiative but it was the Welsh side who upped the ante to grab the lead at a crucial stage. Peter Sidoli was the man who mattered as he bludgeoned his way to the line from close quarters. Sweeney was off the mark with the conversion bid and the excitement level rocketed as Parks completed his penalty treble, reducing the leeway to two points in the process. The home fans then held their heads in despair when they watched Parks' last-gasp drop-goal attempt slide wide of the post by a matter of inches. Then Johnnie Beattie was blocked just a pace short of the line as time ran out. Glasgow's latest defeat to the Dragons left Sean Lineen furious with his misfiring team. "What respect we had been building up has gone," he said bluntly in The Herald. "I am worried about the shortage of tries and we lacked a bit of punch, but the main thing is that the skill level is appalling. "These guys are professional rugby players and at the moment passing and catching seems to be beyond some of them. Poor decisions and our skill level doesn't match our ambition. "We've got to do something, whether it's bringing in new people or what. "The Dragons boys are absolutely ecstatic and it's a great win for them, but they know how to play against us and that's by not playing. They did nothing to win the game, we just gave it to them."
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Posted by neilmacd74 on January 5, 2008 11:18 AM | Reply to this comment Thought we shot ourselves in the foot again last night. Posted by sunday5 on January 5, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply to this comment Not a good start. Still, I thought our second string back division stood up and looked hungry. How the hell did the Gunners leapfrog to 3rd place?! Still, even tho I'm an ardent Warriors fan I can't help feeling pleased that another Scottish side is competing so well. Is that wrong?! With a certain amount of ambiguity, well done Gunners! Keep it up! Posted by hannah on January 5, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply to this comment Sat with my head in my hands after that match and still feel terrible. It was shocking! Thankfully Parks saved at least some of the embrassment! Posted by ajm686 on January 5, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply to this comment Not a good game. Reminded me of a few seasons ago when we finished bottom... What's frustrating is that there is more in this team than they are showing. Its becoming a bit concerning that the same comment could be made for a few of our displays this season. I'm sure Sean will make sure we are focused for the Heineken games. Posted by PhysioJen on January 5, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply to this comment "What's frustrating is that there is more in this team than they are showing", damn straight - it was said on Radio Scotland after the match: quality is permanent but form is temporary. The Warriors just need that mental shift to get on form again. Posted by Alistair on January 5, 2008 01:32 PM | Reply to this comment We paid the price for resting players and the game really, really showed what we're missing in Andy Henderson. Posted by A True Warrior on January 5, 2008 02:52 PM | Reply to this comment Was really shocked at our performance last night, the decision making was unbelievable at times!! We look slow and unable to play what's in front of us. I could probably count on one hand the number of times we've taken tap penalties; it's not just last night. We seem this season to have forgotten how to recycle quick ball and spread it wide at any sort of pace!! Time and time again last night our back line was made up of Parks a number of forwards then a back! As Will Greenwood commented on the rugby club on Thursday, 'rugby’s a simple game you need a nasty set of forwards who'll win you quick ball and a back line to finish moves off.' We just seem to be over complicating it!! Also can we please have Daryl Gibson play in his natural position of inside-centre in the coming weeks!! Posted by bossco85 on January 5, 2008 03:30 PM | Reply to this comment I wasnt at the game but it doesnt sound like i missed a great deal. How a team with as many internationalists as we have can loose games like this at home is beyond me. In the herald today Lineen talked about going to the transfer window, but who is going to come to a club that isnt good enough beat the teams bellow them. We seriously need to waken up, something isnt right some where and the sooner we know what it is the better. Bitterly annoyed by this one. Posted by Wils on January 5, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply to this comment We managed a few good passes and well done to Sam for the try but mainly (almost always) we just didn't play well at all. Sean was really just echoing what we were all saying - Dragons didn't win - WE LOST! Posted by Phall on January 5, 2008 10:57 PM | Reply to this comment To be fair the Dragons came with a much weakened side and left with 4 points. Part of th result is down to them playing well, not simply us losing. Posted by ajm686 on January 6, 2008 02:28 PM | Reply to this comment You at the game then Phall? Posted by jagswarrior on January 6, 2008 09:37 PM | Reply to this comment it was a bizarre game as we always looked the better team but kept losing points at the wrong time. SL has some hard decisions for next week but Henderson should be 12 to defend properly and get over the gain line.Gibson does ok but not exceptional. Add a comment to this articleIf you're replying to an existing comment, please use the 'Reply to this comment' link above the entry. This will display the comments in a way which is far easier for other readers to follow.
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