Glasgow Warriors | Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow Warriors
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February 23, 2014

Newport Gwent Dragons 24 - 23 Glasgow Warriors

GUINNESS PRO12 match played at Rodney Parade on Sunday February 23rd 2014 | No comments

Robert Harley opened the scoring for Glasgow
Glasgow's seven game unbeaten run on the road came to an end at Rodney Parade this afternoon as they went down 24-23 to the Dragons.

Glasgow got off to a great start with Robert Harley charging down Jason Tovey's kick to touch down under the posts after just two minutes.

Finn Russell added the extras before Jason Tovey got Dragons on the board with a penalty after Glasgow were penalised at a scrum.

A Mark Bennett penalty from halfway made it 10-3 to the visitors but Dragons hit back immediately with a try of their own through prop Owen Evans.

Tovey's conversion made it 10-10 with 17 minutes on the clock.

Mark Bennett was wide with another penalty before the Dragons suffered a blow when Tovey was forced off with an injury.

The Dragons were putting the Warriors under pressure but three minutes before the interval scrum-half Nikola Matawalu picked up a knock-on in his own 22 to chip ahead and regather to run in from halfway for the try.

Russell added the conversion from out wide to give the Warriors a 17-10 lead at half-time.

Early in the second period Dragons missed a chance to close the gap when Rhys Jones missed a tricky penalty and the home side were punished when Finn Russell put the Warriors 20-10 ahead with a great three-pointer.

Jones missed another penalty chance as the game entered the final quarter but they got right back in the match with a try in the corner from Cory Hill. Jones made no mistake with the conversion.

The Warriors stretched their lead to 23-17 after another Russell penalty but Dragons came right back to take the lead after a charge down of Matawalu's box kick allowed Ross Wardle to go over for the try in the corner with Jones converting.

Russell had the chance to put Warriors back in front but he was just short with a penalty from the Dragons 10 metre line.

The Warriors pressured Dragons right to the end but couldn't find a way through and leave Rodney Parade with just a bonus point to show for their efforts.

After the game Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend said: "To have led virtually from the start of the game until the end and put so much into it, only to be overhauled at the death, is really disappointing.

"At times defensively we weren't tight enough.

"We put so much into the game and got two great tries but the charge down turned the game on its head in terms of the score and ultimately all we have to show for all our hard work is a losing bonus point.

"That is scant consolation in terms of having built a winning position and not been able to see it through."

Referee Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Attendance 3,916
Team
1
Jerry Yanuyanutawa
2
Dougie Hall
3
Michael Cusack
4
Leone Nakarawa
5
Jonny Gray
6
Robert Harley
7
Tyrone Holmes
8
Josh Strauss
9
Nikola Matawalu
10
Finn Russell
11
Byron McGuigan
12
Mark Bennett
13
Richie Vernon
14
Lee Jones
15
Ruaridh Jackson
Sub
Fraser Brown
Sub
Gordon Reid
Sub
Jon Welsh
Sub
Tom Ryder
Sub
Kevin Bryce
Sub
Henry Pyrgos
Sub
Folau Niua
Sub
Rory Hughes
Match Substitutions
Off On
Michael Cusack Jon Welsh
Off On
Jerry Yanuyanutawa Gordon Reid
Off On
Dougie Hall Fraser Brown
Off On
Leone Nakarawa Tom Ryder
Off On
Nikola Matawalu Henry Pyrgos
Off On
Mark Bennett Folau Niua
Off On
Tyrone Holmes Kevin Bryce
Scorers
Robert Harley Try 
Finn Russell Conversion
Mark Bennett Penalty
Nikola Matawalu Try 
Finn Russell Conversion
Finn Russell Penalty
Finn Russell Penalty