Dragons crashed out of Europe following a 73-33 loss to a powerful Glasgow Warriors side at Scotstoun on Saturday evening.
Dragons were reduced to 14 men in the first half with prop Aki Seiuli seeing red following a head-on-head collision with scrum half George Horne.
Glasgow took advantage of the extra man and utilised their size and power as hooker Johnny Matthews led his side to victory with five tries to see Warriors qualify for the next round of the Challenge Cup.
The Men of Gwent did manage to score five tries of their own through Jordan Williams, Rio Dyer, Jared Rosser and a brace from hooker Elliot Dee but the result ends Dragons European campaign.
The Warriors opened the scoring as wing Kyle Steyn broke from his own half racing into open space before sending scrum half George Horne under the posts with Horne’s conversion making it a 7-0 lead with just two minutes on the clock.
Dragons searched for an immediate response as Glasgow’s defence were subjected to a frenetic spell of early pressure. Instead, it would be the hosts who would be next to cross the whitewash, with Glasgow, through hooker Johnny Matthews, clincially rumbling their way over from a five-metre maul. Horne again added the extras, giving his side a 14-0 lead after a quarter of an hour.
This time, however, the men of Gwent would respond immediately. Some clever interplay from Jordan Williams and Aaron Wainwright would see the visitors make their way to the Glasgow five-metre line, and when the ball was recycled it would allow Williams to cross in the corner following a delightful pass from scrum half Rhodri Williams. Will Reed converted superbly from the touchline, reducing the deficit to seven points.
Glasgow had a response of their own as a loose ball in midfield was regathered by Allan Dell, with the loose-head prop breaking through and charging into space and Matthews was on his shoulder to race over from 30 metres for his second try. The conversion missed by Horne.
Matthews scored his hat trick just before the half hour mark with another driving maul from five metre out. Horne adding the extras for a 26-7 lead after 28 minutes.
Back would come the Dragons once more, as the men of Gwent rallied in search of a route back into the match. Rhodri Williams’ spectacular looping pass would send Rio Dyer racing over the whitewash for the visitors second score, Reed this time pulling the conversion attempt wide to leave the score at 26-12.
Dragons momentum was then halted on 32 minutes, with Aki Seiuli shown a straight red card for head-to-head contact on Horne. The Warriors took full advantage, as moments later Matthews again was the beneficiary of another driving maul. Horne converted.
The visitors would find time for one more score before the break with wing Jared Rosser running an excellent line to claim the crash ball and bounce his way over. Reed's successful conversion quickly followed as we narrowed the gap at the interval.
But just as they started the first half Glasgow crossed early in the second half thanks to another driving maul try from Matthews as he become the first player in Glasgow Warriors history to score five times in a single match, Horne converting for a 40-19 lead.
Replacement Elliot Dee would respond in kind just moments later for a score that – allied with Reed’s conversion – would bring the Dragons back in touch, only for the Glasgow maul to once again prove too powerful for the visitors to handle. This time, though, it would be George Turner, sprung from the bench to replace Matthews, who would benefit, rumbling over for Glasgow’s seventh try. Horne converted, taking the score to 47-26 after 55 minutes.
A quick fire double from the restarts from Cole Forbes and Huw Jones racked up the score as 14 man Dragons began to tire. Horne adding the extras for a 61-26 lead.
With ten minutes to go wing Steyn scored another following a well worked line-out move down the blindside and Horne's offload found the captain as the Warriors extended their lead.
Dragons managed a late consolation as ooker Dee would cross for his second try of the night with four minutes remaining, but the final word would belong to the Warriors as Steyn scored with the last play of the match.
Dragons: Jordan Williams, Rio Dyer, Steff Hughes, Max Clark, Jared Rosser, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams; Aki Seiuli, Bradley Roberts, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter, George Nott, Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Huw Taylor, Sean Lonsdale, Ben Fry, Lewis Jones, Ioan Davies
Glasgow: Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipolotu, Cole Forbes, Domingo Miotti, George Horne; Allan Dell, Johnny Matthews, Lucio Sordoni, Scott Cummings, Richie Gray, Rory Darge, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey
Replacements: George Turner, Nathan McBeth, Simon Berghan, JP Du Preez, Lewis Bean, Ryan Wilson, Jamie Dobie, Tom Jordan
