NEWPORT Gwent Dragons gained an astonishing win when they beat Glasgow for the third season running in Scotland at Fir Hill for their second Magners League triumph in just four days.

They went into the match with a crippling injury list and they lost Welsh internationals Kevin Morgan (knee) and Rhys Thomas (ribs).

They also had Paul Emerich yellow carded in the closing stages but they battled magnificently and even scored two tries to one through Joe Bearman and replacement Peter Sidoli.

The Dragons showed tremendous grit and determination, becoming the first team to beat Glasgow on their own ground in the last 15 months and their reward is a leap up to sixth position in the Magners League, above Glasgow and the Ospreys.

Morning snow in Glasgow gave way to rain, making the pitch heavy.

Almost immediately the Dragons fell behind when danger man Dan Parks blasted a 45-yard penalty high between the posts after the Dragons went over the top.

But they came back well with Michael Owen and Ceri Sweeney handling and when Andy Williams chipped neatly to the corner fullback Stortoni fumbled and Richard Mustoe almost made it, only to be tackled into the corner flag by O'Hare.

Morgan then hoisted a high kick downfield in the biting wind, but continuing line-out problems meant the Dragons surrendered possession.

And they fell further behind when lock Adam Jones was caught offside and Parks again planted the ball firmly between the posts.

But again the Dragons came back, playing some decent rugby, Sweeney off-loading well only to spoil it with a badly directed kick which enabled Stortoni to clear. The Dragons persisted and they were rewarded when they scored a fine try after 20 minutes.

Emerick nearly forced his way over when he took a quick tap penalty and then Williams whipped the ball out and man-of-the-moment handed off hooker Low to barge over for a try which Sweeney converted to give the Dragons the lead.

Parks and Sweeney both missed penalty shots and the Dragons lost two line-outs in a row.

But Williams still scrambled the ball downfield close to the Glasgow line where Thomas tried to barge over and then Owen almost made it.

The Dragons continued to have the better of the game and after Thomas, Owen and Bearman all run strongly the Scots were penalised for coming in from the side and Sweeney extended the lead to four points with a 35-yard penalty.

The Dragons lost a fourth lineout on their own throw, then a bad kick by Morgan was punished by Parks and a forward pass by Barkley denied Glasgow a try with O'Hare clear.

The Dragons suffered a blow when Thomas had to leave the field just before half-time but they still led 10-6 at the interval.

Thomas didn't appear for the second half and was replaced by Hugh Gustafson with Adam Black moving to tight head, meaning the Dragons had two essentially loose head props on the field.

Glasgow were now playing the rugby and the Dragons were having to defend for their lives, though they were aided by Stortoni's knock on and some excellent base kicking by Williams.

They even extended their lead when Glasgow were pulled up for going over the top and Sweeney calmly slotted a 35-yard penalty, though two minutes later he missed from a similar position.

Morgan was now little more than a passenger, limping from yet more knee trouble and Aled Thomas replaced him on 55 minutes. Glasgow made three changes up front and it seemed to galvanise them as they mounted a big attack.

The forwards drove on and scrum half Sam Pinder dummied and darted over for a try which Parks converted to level the scores at 13-13.

The Dragons replaced Adam Jones and Owen with Sidoli and Lewis Evans, then Sweeney, for the second game running, somehow kicked the ball dead from a penalty in midfield.

The Dragons team was looking pretty threadbare now, but amazingly they rallied to forge ahead again with just ten minutes left.

Andrew Hall won a line-out and the forwards powered over the line, where Sidoli grabbed the all-important score, though Sweeney missed the conversion.

But the Dragons were further hit when Emerick was yellow carded for going in from the wrong side and almost immediately Parks kicked his third penalty.

Then he missed a drop-goal attempt by a matter of inches and amid growing tension Glasgow piled on heavy pressure with the clock ticking down.

Skipper Colin Charvis denied Barkley close to the line and somehow the Dragons clung on for a terrific victory.