Arlidge stars as Dragons breathe fire

JAMES ARLIDGE celebrated becoming a father in style as Newport Gwent Dragons tore up the Magners League form book to extend their remarkable winning record in Glasgow.

Fly-half Arlidge stepped off the bench early in last night’s clash at Firhill and helped himself to 15 points as the Dragons beat the Warriors away from home for the fifth time in a row.

Arlidge missed last week’s defeat at the Scarlets due to the birth of his first child, but he scored the first of the visitors’ three tries, the others from Rory Sidney and Richard Fussell. Glasgow’s sole touchdown came from Thom Evans, while Dan Parks matched Arlidge’s contribution with the boot.

Glasgow had won three of their previous four Magners League games, while Dragons had lost three of their last four. The Warriors had also lost only once at Firhill in the Magners League in the past year, while the visitors had tasted victory only once on their travels in the same period.

Glasgow scorers: Try, T Evans; Pens, Parks 4; Drop Goals, Parks.

Newport-Gwent D’gons: Tries, Arlidge, Sidey, Fussell; Cons, Arlidge 2; Pens, Arlidge 2.

GLASGOW: Stortoni; O’Hare, M Evans, Morrison, T Evans; Parks, Pinder; Va’a, Thomson, Low; Palepoi, Kellock; Eddie, Barclay, Brown.

Replacements: Jackson for Stortoni (41), Gregor for Pinder (57), Tckachuk for Va’a (53), Hall for Thomson (53), Turner for Palepoi (3), Vernon for Eddie (57).

NEWPORT-GWENT D’GONS: Tovey; Wyatt, Sidey, Davies, Fussell; Connor, W Evans; Black, Willis, R Thomas; A Hall, Charteris; MacDonald, L Evans, Lydiate. Replacements: Smith for Sidey (78), Arlidge for Connor (9), A Jones for A Hall (62), Ringer for Lydiate (49).

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).