But after the break the home side allowed themselves some breathing space as Zander Fagerson was followed over the whitewash by Junior Bulumakau.
An Ashton Hewitt try gave Newport hope but that was extinguished at the death as debutant Simone Favaro grabbed a fourth try to not only hand the Warriors a bonus point, but a third straight GUINNESS PRO12 victory over their Welsh opponents.
But while Townsend was happy with his side's performance, he was in no mood to celebrate, instead opting to focus on Glasgow's next challenge, a trip to Leinster on Friday night.
"It was a very scrappy game," Townsend told the official club's website. "The Dragons came here to play, and were really positive in their rugby in the first half, as well as strong defensively.
"They were tough for us to break down, and the ball was very slippery as well. As a result, we weren't as fluid in attack as we'd like to have been, but I was pleased with aspects of the game, especially the last 20 to 30 minutes.
"Leinster is a game we all look forward to. We've had some real battles at the RDS over the years, especially last year's 34-34 draw.
"They're a top quality outfit, and they've had a similar challenge to us with regards to having players away at the World Cup.
"We'll be in a better position following our win [against Newport], having found a way to get the victory, and also with a few players making their debuts.
"Taqele [Naiyaravoro] had a few good touches of the ball, and obviously with Simone [Favaro] getting the try at the end, so we're pleased that the players that are looking to get game time got game time, as well as delivering a winning performance."
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