Warriors edge Dragons
Glasgow edged a hard-fought Heineken Cup contest against Newport Gwent Dragons at Firhill.
Last Updated: 15/01/10 10:59pm
Glasgow edged a hard-fought Heineken Cup contest against Newport Gwent Dragons at Firhill, with a second-half try from Fergus Thomson proving enough for them to clinch a 29-25 Pool Two victory.
The Warriors dominated the first quarter of the match but Newport clawed their way back to close the deficit to 24-19 at half-time.
Penalties from Shaun Connor and James Arlidge then edged the Dragons ahead but Thompson crossed the line after 63 minutes to see Glasgow home in a match both sides came into having already exhausted their hopes in the competition.
Glasgow had the first try on the board within the opening minute - Colin Gregor taking a wayward Dragons throw and set up Rob Dewey to storm under the posts, with Ruaridh Jackson adding the conversion.
Two minutes later, the Warriors crossed again, this time through Johnnie Beattie who charged down a clearance from Danny Lee.
Jackson failed to add the extras on this occasion, however, and Newport responded with a try of their own in the sixth minute.
This time it was Gregor who had his kick charged down, with Rob Sidoli getting the touch to open the visitors' account.
But penalties from Jackson and Gregor ensured the home side kept their noses well in front with an 18-5 advantage.
Controversial
Newport were awarded a controversial score in the 25th minute, with a knock-on and forward pass seeming to come in the move which set up flanker James Harris, who romped over for Shaun Connor to convert.
Jackson replied with another penalty for the Warriors, but Rhodri Gomer Davies then raced through to touch down, with Jason Tovey converting, six minutes before half time to give Newport a chance.
They had managed to wear the home side down as the first half progressed and spent the opening ten minutes of the second period camped in their opponents' half.
Only a Connor penalty was forthcoming but when replacement fly-half James Alridge slotted another to hand the Dragons the lead, Glasgow were stunned into retaliation.
In the event, the winning try came after the Dragons had made a mess of their clearance after Dan Parks' monster touch, with Thomson pouncing to give Glasgow the points.
