Joy at last for Firhill faithful
Duncan Weir kicked eight penalties as Glasgow won at home for the first time this season with a 24-19 victory over the Dragons.
Last Updated: 07/10/11 9:54pm
Glasgow fly-half Duncan Weir kicked eight penalties as Glasgow won at home for the first time this season with a 24-19 victory over the Dragons.
Weir's kicks accounted for all his side's points, and in the process he equalled the RaboDirect Pro12 record for the most penalty goals in one game.
In response, Dragons number 10 Matthew Jones scored 11 points with the boot, with the game's only try coming from Martyn Thomas, while replacement Jason Tovey landed a late penalty attempt.
Weir struck early with his first penalty, but the Glasgow lead was overturned moments later.
Quick lineout ball was shifted inside allowing winger Mike Poole to bludgeon his way through the hosts' rearguard. His floated pass was gathered by the onrushing Thomas, who raced in to score. Fly-half Jones converted before adding a monster penalty from well within his own half.
A second penalty from Weir reduced the lead as the Glasgow backs finally began to click, Stuart Hogg and Colin Gregor looking particularly lively.
Hogg was heavily involved in the best move of the half, resulting in home captain Rob Harley careering up the touchline in the visiting 22. The move ground to a halt after six phases of flowing rugby, only to be called back for a penalty awarded after a body check on Hogg moments earlier. Weir maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot to draw his side within a point.
The Dragons were effective at the breakdown and solid in the backs, without ever reproducing the cutting edge they displayed for their first score, yet it was the visitors who went into the half-time break in control of the scoreboard.
Indiscipline among the Glasgow ranks at the breakdown handed Jones three more penalty attempts, two of which he converted with ease, the other passing narrowly wide of the uprights.
Weir responded with his fourth penalty on the stroke of half-time to reduce the gap to four points.
Support
After the break the vociferous home support got behind their side and the pendulum began to swing in Glasgow's favour.
Within 10 minutes they had regained the lead, Weir's accurate right boot landing two further penalties, the second of which was reward for a spell of pressure in the Dragons' 22.
Colin Shaw thought he had squeezed over for a try, only to be penalised for failing to release the ball having been tackled, but Weir's strike ensured they did not come away empty-handed.
Glasgow's pack came into the reckoning as the match wore on and it was a matter of time until the Dragons' front row was penalised. When the penalty arrived, Weir calmly knocked his effort between the uprights.
Entering the closing stage of the game, the Dragons cut the gap to within a single score after replacement stand-off Tovey slotted a penalty.
But Weir maintained his fine form with the boot as he kicked an eighth straight penalty only moments later to secure Glasgow's first home win of the season.
