Warriors squeeze past Dragons
16 January 2010 (00:55)
 |
| Johnnie Beattie © Gallo Images |
The Warriors dominated the first 20 minutes of the Pool Two clash 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 in front but Thompson crossed the line after 63 minutes to see Glasgow home.
With little at stake for either side, Glasgow settled quickly on home soil and had the first try on the board within the opening minute.
Colin Gregor snaffled 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 touched down again through Johnnie Beattie who charged down a clearance from Danny Lee.
Jackson failed to add the extras this time, 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 Dragons' account.
But penalties from Jackson and Gregor ensured the home side kept their noses well in front with an 18-5 advantage.
Newport were then awarded a controversial score after 24 minutes, with a knock on and forward pass seeming to precede the ball which reached James Harris.
The flanker needed no second invitation, though, and romped over for Shaun Connor to convert.
Jackson replied with another penalty for Glasgow, but Rhodri Gomer Davies raced through to touch down and Jason Tovey added the extras six minutes before the interval to give Newport a route back into the match.
The visitors had managed to wear Glasgow down as the first half progressed and spent the opening ten minutes of the second camped in their opponents' red zone but with only a Connor penalty to show for it.
But when replacement fly-half James Alridge slotted the penalty which took the Dragons into the lead, Glasgow were stunned into retaliation.
The Dragons made a mess of the clearance after Dan Parks' monster touch, and Fergus Thomson pounced to give Glasgow the points.
Read more on the Heineken Cup page.