Newcastle Red Bulls 47-31 Glasgow Warriors

A brace from Guy Rogers and tries from Kerr Johnston, Jamie McAughtrie and Callum Reidy gave a vocal Warrior Nation highlights with which to travel back north, in an entertaining encounter at Kingston Park.

In the Tyneside sunshine, the hosts couldn’t have dreamed of a better start as they crossed for the opening try of the game with just a minute on the clock. Having won the ball back from the opening kick-off, patient build-up and an offload from the floor from Chris Harris allowed Josh Hodge to feed Sam Graham for the score. Hodge converted, and the Red Bulls led 7-0.

Undeterred by the early setback, the Warriors set about establishing themselves in the match, and were rewarded with 10 minutes on the clock. Clever identification of space allowed Matthew Urwin to feed Cameron van Wyk out wide, the winger’s grubber kick ahead forcing the Red Bulls to concede a five-metre scrum. From that platform the men in black struck, Urwin and Kerr Yule sending Johnston over the whitewash for a try that – allied to Urwin’s conversion – tied the scores.

Back came the Red Bulls once more, and despite losing Will Rigg to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on, the home side were next to trouble the scorers. Despite being denied moments earlier by a superb try-saver by Jare Oguntibeju, Harris was the beneficiary of some impressive offloading to dive over with 15 minutes played, Hodge converting for a 14-7 advantage.

Hodge was then next to cross the whitewash just moments later, capping a flowing Newcastle team move to score his side’s third try. Tom Christie’s break saw the Newcastle captain find Werner Kok, who in turn had Hodge on his outside to take the scoring pass. The conversion was on target from out wide, giving the hosts a 21-7 lead.

The home faithful were enjoying themselves in the September sun, and more was to come as the game ticked towards the half-hour mark. A five-metre lineout gave Newcastle the chance to maul their way towards the try-line, Christie emerging with the ball for their fourth try of the afternoon. Hodge added the extras once more, taking the scoreline to 28-7.

A fifth try followed with 31 minutes gone, the Red Bulls playing at blistering pace to stretch the Glasgow defence. In the end Christian Wade found himself in space out wide to touch down in the corner, Hodge continuing his flawless first-half record from the tee.

The home side continued where they had left off as the second half got underway, earning an early penalty and going to the corner once again. This time it was George McGuigan who was bundled over for the score, Jake Dalziel missing his first attempt at the posts with the conversion to leave the scoreline reading 40-7 to the hosts.

Glasgow were in no mood to roll over, though, striking back for a try of their own with 46 minutes played. Slick handling in the backline saw van Wyk hare round to make the extra man, feeding Rogers out wide. The winger’s chip ahead was spilled by Werner Kok, allowing Rogers to regather and touch down. The conversion drifted wide, but the Warrior Nation were in full volume.

Rogers was to make it a quickfire brace just eight minutes later, as the academy winger continued to introduce himself to the Warrior Nation with aplomb. A strong carry in midfield from Johnny Ventisei allowed Urwin to pick out a pinpoint cross-field kick, Rogers leaping brilliantly to gather the ball before bumping off Wade to score in the corner. Urwin couldn’t add the extras from the touchline, leaving the scoreline reading 40-17 to the hosts.

The young Warriors were enjoying a purple patch, and with Newcastle repeatedly warned inside their own 22 for lineout infringements, the fourth try arrive just after the hour mark. A fourth successive penalty saw McAughtrie driven over by a 13-man maul, Urwin converting to continue to narrow the deficit.

Newcastle knew that a response was needed, and with 13 minutes remaining it arrived. Ollie Spencer’s powerful line from 30 metres out saw the replacement cut through and dive over, Dalziel converting for a 47-24 lead to the men in white.

Glasgow weren’t done yet though, and whilst Harry Provan was denied a try to go with an energetic cameo, his kick-chase to win a five-metre scrum provided the platform for the fifth try of the night for the Warriors. Reidy was the man to snipe over from close-range, keeping his feet in play superbly to ground the ball under pressure. Urwin converted from the touchline, making it 47-31 with five minutes remaining.

That would be the final act of scoring in a high-paced pre-season affair, Reidy and Urwin almost combining to go the length of the field with the clock deep into overtime as the Warrior spirit shone through until the final whistle. A first hit-out of the pre-season and valuable game time for the club’s young prospects – a clash with Bath at Old Anniesland awaits in a fortnight’s time as preparations continue for the new campaign.

Match tickets are now on general sale for our pre-season clash with Bath Rugby on Friday 18 September

🎟️ Don’t miss out – https://t.co/scbTtvkdtL

*Season Ticket Holders can still purchase tickets pic.twitter.com/XjmB3irR94

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) September 4, 2026