Glsagow 16 - 16 Dragons: Aly Muldowney saves the day for Glasgow

ALY Muldowney salvaged a pile of pride for Glasgow as he dived over for his first-ever Magners League try in the dying seconds at Firhill.

Warriors had seemed destined for another dose of misery after squandering a series of chances but giant lock Muldowney paved the way for Duncan Weir's levelling kick from in front of the target. Having battled back from after an interval deficit, they looked as if they had spoiled the good work by giving away a soft touchdown. But super Aly came up trumps when it mattered

It was a highly-emotional moment just before kick off for New Zealand-born home coach Sean Lineen as everyone in the ground observed a period of silence in tribute to the victims of the earthquake tragedy in Christchurch. The opening exchanges were predictably scrappy and disjointed as both sides attempted to adapt to the sodden and muddy surface. A slip by stand-off Duncan Weir provided the Dragons with momentum to mount the first series of raids. They expertly put together ten patient phases and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts, a simple kick for Matthew Jones. His strike sparked a positive response from the Warriors, thanks to a turnover won by comeback man James Eddie.

Weir almost atoned by sneaking through a half-gap in the danger zone before Colin Gregor was halted just a couple of paces short of the line. Glasgow kept up the pressure – only to surrender the initiative through a penalty for obstruction.

Weir was back in the limelight in the 13th minute as the hosts were awarded a penalty a metre inside enemy territory. He connected cleanly, however the ball drifted narrowly wide – much to the frustration of the young playmaker. And the home brigade were on the back foot again when slack marking allowed Ashley Smith to charge 30 metres and into the 22-area. Their initial surge was thwarted, but Jones thumped over his second penalty from much longer range to double the Dragons lead. The Glasgow defence continued to struggle to cope with the pace and power of the Welsh outfit. And it took a frantic last-gasp tackle by Hefin O'Hare to bring down Andy Harries following a gallop from Joe Bearman.

Weir missed two further penalties, and the trend continued after the restart with Glasgow making mistakes galore and the Dragons looking likely to stretch their advantage.

Weir was back under pressure in the 47th minute as he lined up pot at goal No 4, and this time he got it right to earn his side a big confidence boost. Suddenly the visitors were looking vulnerable and a spilled catch by Bearman set up a promising position for the Warriors. However the anticipation turned to more frustration when Weir's sloppy pass failed to find O'Hare, who was unmarked and poised to squeeze over in the corner.

Even so, this was Glasgow's best spell of the contest as they pinned the Dragons back with a spate of pick-and-go surges. And though they couldn't snatch a try, Weir did level the match with his easiest kick of the night.

Substitute Henry Pyrgos raced to Glasgow's rescue when he mopped up the danger as Adam Hughes looked poised to latch on to his own chip ahead. But Pyrgos was the villain less than a minute later when his bungled clearance resulted in a Dragons try.

The chargedown was pounced upon by flanker Andy Coombs, with Jones adding the extras. Weir immediately clawed back three points to set up a tense finale – only to watch Jason Tovey restore the leeway in identical fashion. Glasgow thought they had grabbed a draw in the dying seconds, but the video ref couldn't get a clear enough view – but Muldowney had the last word.

Scorers: Glasgow: Muldowney. Con: Weir Pen: Weir 2. Dragons: Try: Coombs. Con: M Jones. Pens: M Jones 2, Tovey.

Glasgow: S Hogg; H O'Hare, P Murchie, P Horne, D van der Merwe; D Weir, C Gregor (capt); R Grant, F Thomson, E Kalman, A Muldowney, T Ryder, J Eddie, R Wilson, C Forrester.

Subs: F Gillies, K Tkachuk, G Reid, N Campbell, C Fusaro, H Pyrgos, F Aramburu, B Stortoni.

Dragons: S Hogg; H O'Hare, P Murchie, P Horne, D van der Merwe; D Weir, C Gregor (capt); R Grant, F Thomson, E Kalman, A Muldowney, T Ryder, J Eddie, R Wilson, C Forrester.

Subs: F Gillies, K Tkachuk, G Reid, N Campbell, C Fusaro, H Pyrgos, F Aramburu, B Stortoni.