The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Russell’s boot helps slay Dragons as Glasgow get back on track
Glasgow let half-time lead slip but rally for victory
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS 17 GLASGOW WARRIORS 26
Glasgow got back on track in the Guinness PRO12 after overcoming a determined Dragons side 26-17 at Rodney Parade last night.
The Scots took the spoils thanks to tries by front-row forwards Corey Flynn and Alex Allan but had to repel a spirited comeback from the hosts.
The Warriors led 16-3 at the break but Dragons fired back through prop Sam Hobbs and centre Jack Dixon only for the key score to come through Allan with half-an-hour left.
Both teams went into the game seeking to avoid a hat-trick of defeats, the Dragons having lost to Munster and Treviso while the Warriors had been beaten by the unbeaten pair of Cardiff Blues and Ulster.
They do, however, operate at opposite ends of the table, with the hosts looking for a big scalp and Glasgow needing to get their title tilt back on course.
The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges but had to settle for a pair of Finn Russell penalties.
However, they took command on the half-hour when a driving lineout ended with former All Black Flynn peeling off and powering over.
The Dragons were given an opening when Glasgow flanker Fraser Brown was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle with Nick Macleod getting the hosts on the scoreboard.
However, they allowed Russell to swiftly respond and it was the Warriors who ended the half on the front foot.
The Dragons needed a fast start to the second half and they got just that to lead 17-16 with 49 minutes gone.
First Hobbs powered over from close range and then a turnover ended with Dixon finishing in the left corner.
Macleod’s pair of conversions meant that the Warriors were behind and in need of a response, which they got through the unlikely source of prop Allan after he showed neat footwork to dance over from 20 metres for a score that Russell converted.
At 23-17 it was still very much game on but Russell sealed the win with a penalty to take his tally to 16 points.
Glasgow: Murchie, Seymour, Bennett (Clegg 59), Dunbar, Hughes (Sarto 56), Russell, Pyrgos (Price 56), Allan (SearsDuru 64), Flynn (MacArthur 56), Puafisi (Rae 68), Harley, Gray, Wynne (M Fagerson 72), Brown, Strauss (McAlpine 74).
Ref: Andy Brace (Ireland).