Glasgow 29 Dragons 13

The Rodney Parade region shipped five tries on a windy evening in Scotland to ensure that their losing streak away from home in the Guinness PRO14 stretches to 35 games.

They were huge underdogs against title hopefuls and head coach Bernard Jackman had demanded that at the very least they improved from their round three trip to champions Leinster.

Given that they lost 52-10 in Dublin and conceded eight tries, he got what he wanted.

The Dragons showed spirit in defence to be in with a chance of a consolation bonus point in the closing stages.

However, they showed a lack of creativity or punch in attack with their sole score a breakaway by Adam Warren after a botched play by the hosts.

Nonetheless, the region avoided a damaging hammering ahead of Saturday’s vital derby against Cardiff Blues in Newport.

With that in mind they rested Wales internationals Cory Hill, Ross Moriarty and Ollie Griffiths with Jackman changing seven from the XV that beat Zebre.

But while last year the head coach had been bringing in inexperienced prospects, this time he called up players who have experienced Test rugby in captain Richard Hibbard, prop Ryan Bevington, lock Brandon Nansen and scrum-half Tavis Knoyle plus two of the region’s stalwarts in Lewis Evans and Nic Cudd.

Only Jarryd Sage, included in the absence of the injured Jack Dixon, could be considered wet behind the ears in professional rugby.

Jackman would have wanted some selection headaches for the Blues but, injuries apart, he will probably revert to the Zebre XV despite a fighting display.

Glasgow hit the front after five minutes with a frustratingly soft try for loosehead Oli Kebble, who exploited poor work by his Dragons front row rivals.

The visitors defended a five-metre lineout well but the Warriors retained possession and their prop burst over, exploiting a huge gap between Lloyd Fairbrother and Hibbard.

The conversion was added by Adam Hastings but the Dragons were gifted a penalty straight from the restart for fly-half Arwel Robson to make it 7-3.

That was swiftly followed by an injury blow with Hibbard, who started the game with a heavily strapped left leg, limping off.

After the early try, the Dragons settled well in what was a scrappy game and Robson punished another sloppy Glasgow error from the tee after 20 minutes.

A one-point game was good value for the Rodney Parade region given that they were playing into a stiff breeze.

But they were put under the pump on the half hour as the Warriors hammered away at the line with their heavy forwards.

Three points were twice turned down and it only added to the home supporters’ frustration when the Dragons, with centres Sage and Adam Warren both making super cover tackles, held firm.

But the Warriors got a key score as half-time approached when fly-half Hastings burst through from quick lineout ball and stayed calm in the 22 to provide the assist for wing Lee Jones.

Nonetheless, Jackman would have been pretty content that his charges were well and truly in the battle just six points down at the break.

The head coach certainly wouldn’t have been happy with the start to the second half after a poor mistake by replacement fly-half Josh Lewis, kicking the ball straight out, allowed Glasgow to go on the charge in the 22.

They stayed patient and eventually crafted a lovely score with Hastings taking the ball to the line and centre Alex Dunbar conjuring a cracking offload for Jones to go over for 17-6.

The Warriors were looking to go through the gears… yet it was the Dragons who struck next.

Glasgow spilled the ball in midfield and Sage hacked the ball on for Warren to do likewise then win the race to the ball, getting a nasty graze in the process after going face-first on the plastic pitch over the tryline.

Lewis converted and it was game on at 17-13 with 46 minutes on the clock but it stung Glasgow into action and they had their bonus-point try before the hour.

A quick tap from a scrum penalty got the Warriors into the Dragons’ 22 and they stayed patient before spreading the ball wide for impressive Scotland centre Huw Jones to dash over after exploiting wing Jared Rosser getting too narrow in defence.

Once again the conversion failed, keeping the Dragons just about in it at 22-13 but for all their spirit in defence they had created precious little in attack.

They still had hopes of at least a consolation bonus point and defended strongly to keep it a nine-point game as the clock ticked down.

However, the killer blow came with three minutes left when centre Alex Dunbar finished powerfully with Hastings glad to have a conversion next to the sticks.

Glasgow: R Jackson, L Jones, H Jones (N Grigg 63), A Dunbar, N Matawalu, A Hastings, A Price (G Horne 63), O Kebble (A Allan 68), F Brown (G Turner 63), D Rae (A Nicol ), R Harley (A Davidson 63), J Gray, R Wilson, C Gibbins, M Fagerson (M Fusaro 68).
Scorers: tries – O Kebble, L Jones (2), H Jones, A Dunbar; conversions – A Hastings (2) 

Dragons: J Williams, D Howells (W Talbot-Davies 50), A Warren, J Sage, J Rosser, A Robson (J Lewis 25), T Knoyle, R Bevington (B Harris 50), R Hibbard (captain, E Dee 8), L Fairbrother (A Jarvis 50), B Nansen (H Taylor 55), R Landman, A Wainwright (J Thomas 63), N Cudd, L Evans (J Thomas 28-31, R Williams 79). 
Scorers: try – A Warren; conversions – J Lewis; penalties – A Robson (2)

Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)