RYAN FACING A TOUGH BATTLE
THE Dragons are struggling to arrest an alarming decline in performances which has seen them thrashed in two consecutive matches since the end of the autumn internationals.
They have shipped 66 points collectively against Edinburgh and Glasgow and offered little in return.
The 19-point deficit at Scotstoun flattered them on Saturday night.
Glasgow bounced back after last weekend’s frustrating away loss to Benetton by producing their sharpest performance of the Danny Wilson era.
Two Dragons tries in the final quarter gave the scoreline a complexion which did not properly reflect the extent of the home team’s superiority.
Speaking to Premier Sports after the match, Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan suggested a lack of resources is leading to the region struggling to compete.
“I don’t think we can hide away from it – with the current resources we’ve got, we’re struggling to cope at this level of game,” he said.
“At the start of the season we had everyone on deck but now we’ve lost a few we’re finding that difficult.
“I don’t think effort is something that’s really up for questioning.
“We were well beaten in the first half hour of the game again and it was a challenge for us to stay together in the second half because we could implode trying to get back into it.
“As always, we’ve got to try to support this group.
“The current resources we’ve got at the Dragons, the strategy that gives us those resources, means that we have to put some guys out there who it is right up against.
“My job is to keep that stable and keep supporting them, and I will do that.”
Once again the Dragons’ discipline hamstrung them and meant that almost 80 per cent of the match was played in their half in the opening 40 minutes.
Three first-half tries were conceded and it could have been more but for some good work at the breakdown from the Welsh side on a handful of occasions.
They were, however, comfortably second best and Sione Tuipulotu drove home the ascendancy with a powerful score after 15 minutes, with fly-half Ross Thompson adding the extras.
Ten minutes later the Dragons switched off after Harri Keddie gave away a penalty around halfway. Glasgow scrum-half Ali Price went quickly and the hosts stretched their visitors to the near side.
Thompson then produced a pinpoint cross-kick for Kyle Steyn to walk over in the corner.
Glasgow added another just before half-time.
They won a scrum against the head around 30 metres out and No. 8 Kyle Steyn picked up, breezed through Dan Babos and carried Sam Davies over the line with him.
Thompson converted and the hosts took a 19-0 lead in at the break. In truth, it flattered the Dragons.
The bonus point came just before the hour mark.
Jack Dempsey picked up from the back of a ruck inside his own half and the defence was AWOL as he charged 40 metres upfield.
The ball came to the near side when it was recycled and Ali Price sniped from close range to cross.
After 66 minutes the Dragons got themselves on the board. For the first time in the game they were able to control possession in the Glasgow 22 and the hosts began to infringe and hooker Ellis Shipp cut a lovely angle to stretch over. Davies added the extras.
But Glasgow soon added a fifth try of their own when replacement hooker Johnny Matthews broke through a feeble tackle.
The Dragons crossed for another five minutes later when Mesake Doge burrowed his way over from close range.