91�ȱ�

Glasgow Warriors secured a club record sixth consecutive Pro12 victory by comprehensively sweeping aside a disappointing Newport-Gwent Dragons.

First-half tries from Peter Murchie and Gordon Reid put the Warriors in control, with Tom Prydie's two penalties Dragons' only reply.

Second-half tries from Tom Ryder and Tommy Seymour, with a double, ensured a bonus point for the home side.

Scott Wight was their other scorer with three conversions and two penalties.

The defeat leaves the Dragons second bottom of the table with only one win in their last nine matches, while Glasgow are now second top behind leaders Ulster.

Both sides went into the game without players required for international duty, but it was Glasgow, who have only lost once in their last seven encounters with Welsh sides, who coped the better despite missing 17 players either required by Scotland or absent through injury.

Head coach Gregor Townsend had made seven changes and it was the returning Wight who struck the first blow with a penalty after seven minutes.

With Canada winger Taylor Paris and Fijian scrum-half Niko Matawalu making their debuts and Troy Nathan his first start of the season at inside centre, there was greater hunger and urgency from the hosts.

Murchie touched down after Lewis Robling messed up his attempt to clear the Glasgow full-back's own grubber kick.

That was converted by fly-half Wight and Josh Strauss thought he had added another try in the corner only to be thwarted by a forward pass.

However, after 29 minutes, Reid picked up from the base of a ruck and the 19 stone prop outpaced the Dragons defence to touch down below the posts and give Wight another easy conversion.

Prydie got the Dragons on the scoreboard with a couple of penalties sandwiched between another from Wight.

Glasgow continued to be the more positive side after the break and Ryder emerged with ball in hand after a pile up in the far corner, although Wight was unable to add another conversion to the tally.

Matawalu had already impressed by the time a couple of sidesteps and an outrageous offload set up Seymour for the fourth try in the corner and ensured a bonus point by the 65th minute.

Seymour added another try to match his double from last weekend, although there were hints of a knock-on as he gathered his own kick ahead after it rebounded off a post, with Wight this time landing the conversion.

Man of the match Matawalu received a standing ovation as he was replaced a few minutes ahead of full-time, with the game long since won by the home side.

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend: "We are delighted with the win because the Dragons are a very difficult team to play against because they are very competitive.

"We expected them to kick more so we were a bit surprised by them running it straight away and they ran a lot in the first half.

"Our defence wasn't up to the same intensity that we've had earlier in the season, but our attack was very good.

"I thought the lines of running, the support play and the offloads were fantastic.

"The way we defended, keeping them out certainly tired them out and we just got stronger and stronger.

"At scrum-half, I thought Niko was superb. He really put pace on the ball."

Glasgow Warriors: Murchie, Seymour, Dunbar, Nathan, Paris, Wight, Matawalu, Reid, Hall, Cusack, Ryder, Swinson, Harley, Fusaro, Strauss. Replacements: Horne for Nathan (64), Kennedy for Matawalu (72), Fainga'anuku for Reid (56), Gillies for Hall (78), Araoz for Cusack (78), Eddie for Ryder (56), Barclay for Fusaro (64), Wilson for Strauss (75).

Newport-Gwent Dragons: D Evans, Chavhanga, Leach, A Smith, Prydie, Robling, J Evans, Price, S Jones, Buck, Nimmo, Sidoli, L. Evans, Cudd, Brown. Replacements: Amos for Prydie (68), S. Jones for Robling (54), Davies for J. Evans (54), Way for Buck (57), A. Jones for Sidoli (19), Groves for L. Evans (17). Not Used: Gustafson, Williams.

Att: 3,317

Ref: Marius Mitrea (Italy)