Guinness PRO12: Glasgow Warriors impress in win at Newport Gwent Dragons

Glasgow's Tyrone Holmes was dismissed

Glasgow Warriors won 33-13 at Dragons but their flanker Tyrone Holmes could face a ban after being sent off in his side's bonus-point victory at Rodney Parade.

Holmes was red-carded just 35 seconds into the second period for stamping on home hooker Rhys Thomas with his side 13-3 ahead thanks to a try from centre Alex Dunbar, a penalty and conversion by fly-half Duncan Weir and a long-range Stuart Hogg penalty.

But rather than Glasgow capitulating when down to 14 men, they ran in further tries from captain Josh Strauss, wing Tommy Seymour and lock Tim Swinson sealing a 33-13 scoreline.

The Dragons were limited to Richie Rees' converted try and two Angus O'Brien penalties.

It had been tough for the Dragons in the last week. Major injury problems just two games into the season, affecting six of their backs selection, meant signing centre Ben John from the Ospreys on a month-long loan.

Glasgow have got off to a flyer in the opening matches, impressively beating Leinster and Cardiff Blues, and began their latest clash with a bang.

After home wing Tom Prydie missed an ambitious 52-metre penalty, Dunbar exploited the relative rawness of the home midfield partnership by slicing through a gap between Dorian Jones and John to jog in under the posts from 20 metres, giving Weir a simple conversion.

Glasgow went 10-0 up with Weir's first penalty on 18 minutes before youngster O'Brien got the Welsh unit on the board with a 35-metre shot.

But it was Glasgow's half and Hogg restored their 10-point advantage before the Dragons dropped a scrum just inside their half, costing tight-head prop Lloyd Fairbrother 10 minutes in the sin-bin on the stroke of half-time.

It could have been more but for a last-ditch tackle by O'Brien on wing DTH Van Der Merwe before the break, leaving two diverse team talks in the changing rooms.

Madness

Holmes' moment of madness saw referee David Wilkinson give him a red card after consulting with TV official Tim Hayes but it looked like the Dragons were the ones down to 14 men afterwards rather than Glasgow.

O'Brien and Weir swapped penalties but pressure inside the home 22 eventually saw number eight Strauss drive over from a few metres.

Rees gave the Dragons some hope as the pack drove to the Glasgow line and the scrum-half dived in from a metre for O'Brien to convert.

But when Seymour skinned ex-Wales wing Aled Brew on the right wing for his side's third, there was no way back for the Welshmen.

And after lock Swinson dived in at the corner from a metre for the bonus-point touchdown two minutes from the end, it put the Warriors top of the league by a point and looking forward to a mouthwatering clash with second-placed Connacht at Scotstoun on Friday.