The home side sped into an early lead and were only one point adrift at the break. But four second half tries from the visitors gave them a healthy victory in the end.
Facing Guinness PRO14 opposition for the first time this month new Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman will have been concerned to see his side concede six tries in the end.
Glasgow arrived with six Scottish internationals in their starting XV and a team seeking to impress new head coach Dave Rennie. They ran into a Dragons side equally keen to make a mark a week out from the start of the Guinness PRO14 against Leinster at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 2 September.
Wales tourists Tyler Morgan and Ollie Griffiths returned to the Dragons line-up and were instrumental in helping them move into a 10 point lead in almost as many minutes. Angus O’Brien kicked a seventh minute penalty and then Hallam Amos caused panic in the visitors defence with a clever kick through into the 22.
Full back Ruaridh Jackson tried to fall on it on his line, but lost control and scrum Charlie Davies appeared on the scene to pick up the loose ball and cross at the posts. O’Brien added the extras and the Dragons were off to a flying start.
The Warriors conceded a number of penalties at the breakdown as they struggled to come to terms with the new laws, but they quickly broke down the home side’s lead with two tries. Rory Hughes went over in the left corner after 17 minutes and then a wonderful piece of skill from second row Scott Cummings, releasing the ball out of a tackle, allowed Jackson to run in unopposed from the 22 metre line.
Adam Hastings, son of former Scotland and British & Irish Lions captain Gavin Hastings, converted both tries to edge his side ahead 14-10, but O’Brien added a penalty before the break to cut the lead to a single point.
Nic Cudd replaced Ollie Griffiths at the break for the Dragons, while the Warriors made three changes in their back line, bringing on new half backs, and two up front. The Dragons started the second half as they had the first and seven minutes after the re-start O’Brien kicked his side back in front with his second penalty.
The Dragons outside half had another shot at goal to try to extend the lead, but was wide from the 10 metre line, and the Warriors hit back with two tries in as many minutes. With Cudd down with an injury the home side were reduced in numbers and outside half Peter Horne spotted a gap in the defence, waltzed through it and sent Nick Grigg racing to the posts.
Horne added the conversion and then new signing Leila Masaga, recruited from New Zealand Super Rugby side the Chiefs, burst into life on the left wing. He took the re-start in his 22, bumped off two Dragons players and then raced over half-way before sending lock Scott Cummings racing up the touchline for a corner try.
Centre Sam Johnson was next to score for the visitors, brushing aside three defenders as he raced the length of the home 22 and Horne added the extras to stretch the gap to 17 points.
There was just time for one more try from the Warriors, this time from Academy centre Patrick Kelly, which Horne converted, and the Dragons were denied a late score from Adam Hughes for obstruction.
They did, however, pick up a second try in the final move of the match as O’Brien picked up a loose kick head, fed Amos and Adam Warren rounded off the 40 metre break with a try that O’Brien converted.
Scorers: Dragons: Tries: Charlie Davies, Adam Warren; Cons: Angus O’Brien 2; Pens: Angus O’Brien 3. Glasgow Warriors: Tries: Rory Hughes, Ruaridh Jackson, Peter Grigg, Scott Cummings, Sam Johnson, Patrick Kelly; Cons: Peter Horne 3, Adam Hastings 2.
Dragons: Zane Kirchner; Ashton Hewitt, Tyler Morgan, Sam Beard, Hallam Amos; Angus O’Brien, Charlie Davies; Brok Harris, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Matthew Screech, Ashley Sweet, James Thomas (captain), Ollie Griffiths, James Benjamin
Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Thomas Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Lennon Greggains, Nic Cudd, Sarel Pretorius, Dorian Jones, Adam Warren, Adam Hughes, Jarred Rosser, Pat Howard
Glasgow Warriors: Ruaridh Jackson ; Lee Jones, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, Rory Hughes; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, James Malcolm, D’arcy Rae, Brian Alainu’uese, Scott Cummings, Lewis Wynne, Chris Fusaro, Adam Ashe (captain)
Reps: George Turner , Gary Strain, Adam Nicol, Greg Peterson, Kiran McDonald, Hamilton Burr, Matt Smith, Matt Fagerson, Henry Pyrgos, Peter Horne, Patrick Kelly, Lelia Masaga, Stafford McDowell
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
