Newport Gwent Dragons suffered the dreaded Heineken Cup whitewash when they were beaten by Glasgow at Rodney Parade yesterday.

It meant they were humiliated in Europe, losing all their six pool games for the first time, a new low even by their standards in the competition.

They dominated large parts of the first half, but as usual wasted chance after chance.

They still put themselves in a winning position when they forged ahead 16-6 after 56 minutes, but they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory – and in style as they conceded three second-half tries, two of them by South African wing DT van der Merwe.

Work may have started on a new stand, but unless the Dragons can put a few wins together it will all be a waste of time – and money.

Wales coach Warren Gatland was watching from the one stand still in use, and he may well report back to the Welsh Rugby Union, who own half the Dragons anyway, that they should take it over lock, stock and barrel.

The Dragons began brightly, Ashley Smith breaking a tackle after Rob Sidoli won a line-out and putting co-centre Tom Riley away, but though Riley’s long pass found Aled Brew the Glasgow cover got back to snuff the danger out.

And the Scottish team took a fifth- minute lead when outside-half Ruaridh Jackson fired over a 45- yard penalty downwind.

Gatland arrived fresh from watching the Scarlets on television to take a last-minute look at Dragons candidates for the Wales Six Nations squad before heading for Cardiff to pick it.

He was in time to see one of the possibilities – Jason Tovey landing a dropped goal to put the Dragons level. It was his seventh for the Dragons, equalling the record by Craig Warlow, though in 13 fewer appearances.

Another squad challenger – Toby Faletau – made ground in some style through the Glasgow defence before losing possession as he was tackled. And two more – Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate – also made headway into the stiff wind.

And yet another – Aled Brew – went headlong for the line after Charteris won a line-out, the pack drove it and Tovey and Riley combined to send Brew powering on, but his effort was ruled out by the TMO.

Brew was over the line again moments later after Lydiate put his head down and Tovey threw out a long pass to his left, putting the wing clear, but it was ruled forward.

After a shaky start the Dragons were in charge, and after Will Harries took a high ball well Tovey and Faletau both ran strongly, but again the finish wasn’t quite there.

The Dragons lost prop Phil Price with a cut head, replaced by Gethin Robinson, and he was followed off the field by Riley, Pat Leach taking over.

In between Glasgow made the Dragons rue their missed opportunities when Jackson landed another long-range penalty to regain the lead for his side, but a Tovey penalty soon after put the teams level.

But the outside-half just missed with another shot at goal within two minutes of the restart, Price having resumed, but not Riley.

Two minutes later Tovey succeeded, and the Dragons were ahead.

They attacked with some conviction, Leach putting Charteris clear with a neat pass, but they were turned over.

Brew made it third time lucky, though, when he was awarded a try, but controversially when a kick ahead by Leach appeared to be touched down properly, the referee consulted the TMO and to the surprise of everyone the Dragons winger was awarded a try which Tovey converted from the touchline.

It put him clear as the leading try- scorer this season on six, one ahead of Adam Hughes.

Glasgow hit back with a try of their own when after a series of drives by the pack scrum-half Colin Gregor dummied his way over, though Jackson missed the conversion by some distance.

And the Scots stung the Dragons by scoring another try when van der Merwe shot through some powder-puff tackling and raced over, but Jackson missed the conversion from almost bang in front.

That put the scores level going into the final quarter, but Tovey missed a second penalty attempt which would have regained the lead. And with nine minutes left the Dragons were rocked when van der Merwe broke out of an attempted tackle by Harries to dash away unopposed for his second try, which Gregor converted.

Newport Gwent Dragons: W Harries, A Hughes, T Riley (P Leach 33), A Smith, A Brew, J Tovey (M Jones 74), W Evans, P Price (G Robinson 28-40), T Willis, captain (S Jones 57), B Castle, L Charteris, R Sidoli (S Morgan 62), D Lydiate (L Evans 72), T Faletau, G Thomas.

Scorers – try; A Brew; conversion: J Tovey; penalties: Tovey (2); dropped goal: Tovey.

Glasgow: B Stortoni (H Pyrgos 61), C Shaw (H O’Hare 50), C Aramburu (P Horne 50), P Murchie, D van der Merwe, R Jackson, C Gregor, J Welsh (R Grant 50), D Hall (F Thomson 50), M Low (K Tkachuk 61), A Muldowney, A Kellock, captain (C Fusaro 69), R Harley (C Fusaro 61-69), R Wilson, R Vernon (P Burke 78).

Scorers – tries: C Gregor, D van der Merwe (2); conversion: C Gregor; penalties: R Jackson (2).

Referee: J P Doyle (England).

Attendance: 5,284.

Argus star man: G Thomas.