THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
HAMISH STUART AT RODNEY PARADE

Newport Gwent Dragons 13
Glasgow 3
AFTER seven days when everyone left in Scottish rugby needed something to cheer them up, Glasgow came frustratingly close to doing just that.

However, two cruel minutes at the end of the game saw the result snatched away. On such a foul night it was perhaps appropriate lightning should strike twice - Ceri Sweeney getting the kick to sink the Scots just as he had at Hughenden at the start of the season.

Having taken the lead for the first time with a minute to go, the Dragons then scored the only try of the game through wing Aled Brew, with Sweeney adding the conversion.

In monsoon conditions it was something of a surprise the game even went ahead. The pitch was firm enough underfoot to satisfy referee George Clancey, but the torrential rain simply formed huge puddles on top as the rain continued to teem down.

The Dragons enjoyed all the early pressure, but Glasgow held them out and eventually forced a knock-on just when the home side thought they had breached the determined defence. With Glasgow kicking their way upfield and the forwards showing commitment up front, stand-off Dan Parks was given a penalty opportunity which he scuffed over from 40 yards to give the visitors the lead. They came close to extending that at the start of the second half when they enjoyed a period of pressure on the Dragons line. Eventually the ball came out to Parks who kicked for the corner where wing Hefin o'Hare was in the clear to take the catch, however before he could ground the ball he was tackled into touch.

The Warriors were back on the defensive and eventually conceded a penalty for offside under their posts. Ceri Sweeney slotted the simple three points to level the scores. Glasgow survived No 8 John Beattie being sin binned for a professional foul, but then could not survive the last two minutes of the match - so near and yet so far.

Scorers: Dragons: Try - Brew; Pens - Sweeney (2); Con - Sweeney. Glasgow: Pen - Parks.

Newport Gwent: A Thomas; G Wyatt, P Emerick, A Smith, A Brew; CSweeney, A Walker; A Black, B Daly, L Harrison, L Charteris, P Sidoli, CCharvis, J Ringer, M Owen. Subs: R Wilkes, J Corsi on for Harrison 62, A Hall on for Ringer 78, N Fitisemanu on for Sidoli 56, R Fussell, PDollman on for Emerick 62, G Cooper on for Walker 65.

Glasgow: S Marsden; H O'Hare, G Morrison, A Henderson, T Evans; DParks, G Beveridge, K Tkachuk, F Thomson, M Low, A Newman, AKellock (capt), S Swindall, J Barclay, J Beattie. Subs: E Milligan on for Thompson 76, B Prescott, D Turner, D Macfadyen on for Wilson 76, AWilson on for Swindall 53, C Gregor, S Barrow.

Referee: G Clancy (Ireland). Attendance: 4,000.

This article was posted on 3-Mar-2007, 08:24 by Hugh Barrow.