Dragons 20-45 Glasgow Warriors

BKT United Rugby Championship, Rodney Parade, Newport, Wales 16/2/2025 Dragons vs Glasgow Warriors Duncan Weir of Glasgow Warriors scores a try Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Mike Jones

A brace from George Horne saw the scrum-half move to within a single try of DTH van der Merwe’s all-time club record, with Johnny Matthews, Duncan Weir, Jack Mann, Nathan McBeth and Sebastian Cancelliere also dotting down for Franco Smith’s squad.

The home side would be the first to trouble the scorers on a bitterly cold afternoon in Newport, as Lloyd Evans made no mistake with a penalty on the Glasgow 22 with just two minutes on the clock

Indeed, tIt the first try of the afternoon was also to come from the Dragons, as James Benjamin found just enough room to squeeze over from close-range to mark his 100^th appearance for the Welsh outfit in style. Evans converted, and the hosts had a 10-0 lead after as many minutes.

Undeterred, the Warriors set about searching for a first score of their own, Fin Richardson and Mann carrying industriously in the tight exchanges. The breakthrough eventually arrived with 23 minutes gone; Cancelliere’s alertness saw the winger capitalise on a loose ball to go within five metres of the line, before Weir’s composure saw the fly-half flip the ball on to a charging Matthews for the score. Weir’s extras narrowed the gap, bringing his side back within three points.

Evans extended the lead by another three points just moments later after a Glasgow indiscretion at the breakdown, but back game the Warriors almost immediately. An illegal clearout gave Weir the chance to direct his team to the corner, and whilst the initial drive was repelled, there was no stopping Mann when the back-rower set course for the whitewash for his first try in Glasgow colours. Weir’s conversion struck the upright, leaving it a one-point margin as the game approached the half-hour mark.

No sooner had the match restarted then the Warriors hit the lead for the first time. Richardson’s clean burst through the middle saw the prop feed Cancelliere, who showed great composure with three Dragons defenders swarming him to slip the ball to Horne. The scrum-half needed no second invitation to scamper over the line, giving Glasgow a 17-13 lead after Weir’s conversion sailed wide.

The bonus-point arrived with two minutes to play in the half, as Glasgow began to open up their opponents. Munn and Mann combined to send the latter racing into space, Cancelliere again on his shoulder to take the play to within 10 metres. A loose ball then saw Josh McKay dab the ball through, with Weir just about getting the ball down before the dead-ball line. The skipper duly dusted himself down to convert his own score, putting his side 24-13 to the good.

It was the Dragons who would have the final word of the opening stanza, however, as Shane Lewis-Hughes piled over with the clock in the red to bring the Dragons back within a score. Evans added the extras, making it a four-point gap at the interval.

Franco Smith’s men took less than two minutes of the second half to reply in kind. Ollie Smith’s ball over the top sent Matthews hurtling down the touchline, and when the ball was recycled, the pack went to work. McBeth was eventually the man to power over from close-range for a first-ever Glasgow try, Weir converting for a 31-20 lead.

Try number six was to follow just five minutes later, as the Warriors struck from first-phase ball. Jare Oguntibeju’s clean take from the lineout saw Horne collect at full tilt, dummying to Matthews on his inside before darting over for his second of the afternoon. Weir’s conversion made it an 18-point lead, and the visitors weren’t done yet.

There was almost a third inside a 10-minute spell for the Warriors, too, as Cancelliere’s interception saw the winger race from 22 to 22 before being felled by the scramble defence. Weir then rolled back the years with a darting break of his own, as Glasgow pressed for more.

Henco Venter was the next to go close, the back-rower almost steaming his way under the posts after pouncing on a loose ball. Instead, it was Cancelliere who would be the next to cross the whitewash for a deserved score, the winger latching on to Weir’s looping pass after swift ball from a lineout inside the Dragons 22, rounding the last man for the score. Weir added the extras via the uprights, and the Warriors led 45-20 with eight minutes to play.

That would be the final score of the game, although not for the lack of trying by both sides. A bonus-point win that sees the Warriors keep pace at the top of the standings – all eyes now turn to a fortnight’s time, as the Ospreys visit Scotstoun on Origin Night.

🤩 Secure your seats at Scotstoun on Saturday 1 March, as we celebrate grassroots rugby for our Origin Round Double-Header!

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) February 7, 2025