Dragons 23 - 11 Perpignan - Amlin Cup Result

Newport Gwent Dragons (17) 23
Tries: Evans, Jones Cons: Tovey 2 Pens: Tovey Drop-goal: Tovey 2
Perpignan (3) 13
Tries: Plante Cons: Hook Pens: Hook 2

Man of the Match was Lewis Evans the Dragons Blindside


The Dragons secured their second successive victory in the Amlin Challenge Cup with an impressive win over Perpignan at Rodney Parade.

Lewis Evans and Adam Jones crossed for first half tries for the Dragons, who top Pool 4.

Jason Tovey contributed 13 points to the Dragons total, including two drop-goals.

Adrien Plante scored a consolation for Perpignan, while James Hook contributed eight points on his Welsh return.

Both sides went into the game having won their opening matches in the competition the previous weekend.

The Dragons started purposefully and tested the Perpignan defence during a scrappy opening opening 10 minutes.

And they were rewarded for their early pressure with the opening try of the game on 13 minutes.

Tovey released flanker Evans out wide, who charged through a gap to score from close range before the number 10 added the extra two points.

Tovey extended the home side's lead to 10-0 on 22 minutes, slotting over a straightforward penalty.

The Dragons did not have to wait too long for their second try and Wales hooker Lloyd Burns, making his first appearance since returning from World Cup duty, played a pivotal role.

A charging run from Burns set up Adam Jones who rolled over for the try, which Tovey successfully converted.

Perpignan had to wait until the 34th minute for their first points of the game with James Hook successful with a simple penalty.

Having enjoyed the majority and the possession during the first half, the Dragons fully deserved their 17-3 interval lead.

Hook scored the first points of the second half with a long range penalty which doubled his side's score.

After a subdued first half, Hook was settling into the game but the former Osprey missed his third penalty attempt of the evening.

His opposite number Tovey added to his and his side's tally on 56 minutes when he added a further three points with a drop-goal.

Five minutes later Tovey added a second drop goal from a similar position after some patient play by the Dragons.

Perpignan were down to 14 men on 63 minutes after Florian Cazenave was shown a yellow card following an infringement at a ruck.

Tovey failed with the resultant penalty, his first failure of the evening before he missed another attempt four minutes later.

The Dragons were forced to play out the final nine minutes a man short after former Wales international Gavin Thomas was also sin-binned.

In the final minute wing Plante burst through the middle for a consolation try, which was converted by Hook.

But by then the Dragons had done enough to secure their second win of the competition.

The teams:

Dragons: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Adam Hughes, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Lewis Evans, 5 Robert Sidoli, 4 Adam Jones, 3 Dan Way, 2 Lloyd Burns, 1 Nathan Williams.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Phil Price, 18 Nathan Buck, 19 Scott Morgan, 20 Andrew Coombs, 21 Joe Bedford, 22 Lewis Robling, 23 Steffan Jones.
Perpignan: 15 Jérôme Porical, 14 Adrien Plante, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Gavin Hume, 11 Julien Candelon, 10 James Hook, 9 Florian Cazenave, 8 Ovidiu Tonita, 7 Jean-Pierre Perez,6 Grégory Le Corvec, 5 Robins Tchale Watchou,4 Olivier Olibeau, 3 Benoit Bourrust, 2 Charles Geli, 1 Perry Freshwater.
Replacements: 16 Guilhem Guirado, 17 Jérôme Schuster, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Gerrie Britz, 20 Bertrand Guiry, 21 Rudolphe Coetzee, 22 David Mele, 23 Nicolas Laharrague.

Maesteg old chum

I like the look of that Dragons 22 mate, and WOW Hooky to face his Welsh bros.

Could be a the makings of an epic encounter

Right cuppa and few biccies and lets see if I can get this on sky

Tv link -
http://s4c.tv/clic/e_live.shtml

English commentry -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/15782268.stm

I been looking forward to this, go Dragons!

Hook vs Tovey could be interesting eh...!

Gav thomas is 34...? wow, his career went fast

dragons looking good, all in perps half...

maestegmafia wrote:Hook vs Tovey could be interesting eh...!

Yup, could be a cracker though hopefully Tovey will come out on top.

flyhalffactory wrote:Maesteg old chum

I like the look of that Dragons 22 mate, and WOW Hooky to face his Welsh bros.

Could be a the makings of an epic encounter

Right cuppa and few biccies and lets see if I can get this on sky

FHF shw mai mate...! Hope alls well...

big perpignan scrum blasted dragons off the ball.. hook looking lively

Last scrum was ominous for the Dragons....

chavanga looks very fast, sliced through USAP

Both sides line outs were pants first up

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Last scrum was ominous for the Dragons....

maybe a bit of an early hit... decent defensive line outs by the dragons. preps struggling a bit there

high tackle on martyn thomas, kicked for line out instead of for posts...! BRAVE

a well deserved try by the excellent lewis evans... he has looked a big threat ball in hand all match so far...

whole team playing good, measure and patient attacking rugby

loads of pace, well done dragons, really deserved that...

7-0

Perp look half asleep. Are they up for this?

the restart didnt make ten... iffy decision on the replay...

but whether it did or not that is the furthest USAP have been in the dragons half until now. penalty for intefering on the flour by burns...

line out, breaks blind and a good run lewis evans covering tackle is fantastic

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Perp look half asleep. Are they up for this?

Hookie is up for it.. others look a bit off pace, but i noticed all french sides do currently...

Hey there my Welsh cousins and anyone else

Maesteg its been a busy but good day, was in the Cardiff Bay this morning in some amazingly sunny and mild weather, now back in the "burgh......... thats Musselburgh of course

Thanks Alyn for the link

Dragons looking good, and Tovey just shading the flyhalf area, Hooky playing well within himself, structured and well balanced . That Lewis Evans looks the dogs b0ll0cks........... superb angled try

I am liking it

Great work by Brew............ I like the cut of that mans jib

Nice to see the Dragons looking up for it, their always a different side at home.

Sounds like a good day out there FHF

Ive been feeling a bit under the weather today, had to head down to the Vale of Glammorgan today, normally only an hour from me but traffic was awful, i am knackered now... So I lit the fire and switched on the rugby.

hookie looks fine the rest of the team are lacking impetus

great try there by the boys...! great dragons performance to start... THink they can get a TBP from this ???

17-0 bloody hell!

I wish id of gone now, pity it's rent week!

AlynDavies wrote:17-0 bloody hell!

I wish id of gone now, pity it's rent week!

sounds like you need a second job alyn

lovely pace by hughes

maestegmafia wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:17-0 bloody hell!

I wish id of gone now, pity it's rent week!

sounds like you need a second job alyn

How about a "roving reporter for 606V2"................. you'd be just the man Alyn old bean

adam jones is taking his selection well.. playing very good rugby tonight

ref is not on top of this at all.. few off decisions there... thank god Billtong isnt a dragons supporter else we would never hear the end of it

Perpignan slowly cranking it up............. ominous signs

THat is a big perp scrum...

There is a match here, just the perps are taking half a game to get into it

Tovey needs to structure his fellow backs, their defensive line is looking shaky at the moment............. too many going for the same man

I think they are trying to do that irish stand up and rip defence...?

Ashley Smith leads the backline in defence

dropped ball by tonita scrum on perp 22 dragons put in... theyll need to man up for this

Lucky not to get a yellow there for Dragons not rolling away and interfering with the ball right underneath their
posts

ball ripped out of tonitas hands passed to lewis evans lovely pass to dan way who gives a terrible ball to wayne evans... scrum perp

much better scrum dragons. held there own then...

17-3 at half time...! Lewis evans man of the half for me... great player, could well have put himself in line to try on lydiates boots in a few weeks time

Worried dragons didnt score enough points

maestegmafia wrote:ball ripped out of tonitas hands passed to lewis evans lovely pass to dan way who gives a terrible ball to wayne evans... scrum perp

Lewis Evans had a epic first half of "Lydiate" proportion

Enjoyed that 40 mins, but Dragons should be 3 tries up now instead of 2

maestegmafia wrote:sounds like you need a second job alyn

Na I just bought my girl friend desperate housewives seasons 5,6 and 7, Life Begins seasons 2 and 3, and Fat Friends season 3 this week for christmas, so it's left me a bit short when I have to pay £325 rent and a £30 inter net bill!

Rugby is off the menu this week I'm afraid

Loving this at the minute. Didn't expect that. I knew Shanksy would be good cover for Lydiate.

Need a big start to the second half. Better attendance than I expected for a Thursday affair. Good enough atmosphere too.

C'mon Dragons

Great start by both teams there but the dragons are hungrier

scrum to dragons inside perp 22

Dragons make a hash of the scrum and perp get put in same spot

lovely work by dragons, quick hands evans deft kick tovey touched a perp hand dragons throw in

17-6 hook penalty

chavanga looking great... very fast almost took an interception