DRAGONS 32-33 TREVISO
Despite scoring a try bonus point the Dragons failed to give the Rodney Parade faithful the win they all wanted so badly.
Despite scoring a try bonus point the Dragons failed to give the Rodney Parade faithful the win they all wanted so badly.
A brace of tries by Aled Brew followed by tries from Toby Faletau and Adam Hughes couldn't dent the spirit of the Treviso team who returned back to Italy with a bonus point win.
The Dragons, forced to make a late change before kick-off when Luke Charteris was ruled out, started off the better team and got an early reward when young outside half, Lewis Robling, scored a long range penalty. As proved to be the pattern the game would follow, Treviso bounced back immediately with a penalty of their own.
A hungry looking Dragons team then regained the lead with some great midfield play when skipper Ashley Smith and an impressive deft pass by Adam Hughes broke a hole through the Italian defence allowing Brew to score his first try.
Treviso got themselves back into the game when they exploited turn-over ball to score a try of their own and then took the lead through a penalty.
Some enterprising play from Will Harries nearly brought a try from a chip and chase but was denied by opposite number, Luke McLean. It was Harries' last play of the game as injured forced him off being replaced by young Hallam Amos. The Friday 13th jinx seemed to strike again when injured Sam Parry was replaced by Steve Jones after 33 minutes.
Just as half time was approaching Treviso attacked trough the middle and a loose pass was taken by Aled Brew who ran the half the length of the field for the touchdown, Adam Hughes converted and it looked like the Dragons would go into half time leading but again Treviso, with the last play of the half brought he scores level at 18-18 with a McLean try in the corner.
The Dragons came out in the second half looking eager to get some more points and using fast ball at every opportunity initially stunned Treviso. Toby Faletau crafted a scoring opportunity and Adam Hughes converted it to give the Dragons another 7 point lead. This lead was to last only 5 minutes as a Robling kick was charged down allowing Kris Burton to collect and score.
Treviso then seemed to take control of the game in the Dragons' half and got their noses in front when Burton got his 'full-house' with a drop goal. Both teams played some good rugby looking for that elusive 4 try bonus point and after a yellow card for both teams a Jason Tovey pass, who replaced Robling moments earlier, was intercepted and stretched the Italian's lead to 25-33.
With 5 minutes left another yellow card for Treviso gave the Dragons some more hope and Hughes broke through and scored under the posts, followed by his own conversion.
Despite pushing on in the last minute the Dragons failed to find another score leaving it as Dragons 32 - Treviso 33.
A brace of tries by Aled Brew followed by tries from Toby Faletau and Adam Hughes couldn't dent the spirit of the Treviso team who returned back to Italy with a bonus point win.
The Dragons, forced to make a late change before kick-off when Luke Charteris was ruled out, started off the better team and got an early reward when young outside half, Lewis Robling, scored a long range penalty. As proved to be the pattern the game would follow, Treviso bounced back immediately with a penalty of their own.
A hungry looking Dragons team then regained the lead with some great midfield play when skipper Ashley Smith and an impressive deft pass by Adam Hughes broke a hole through the Italian defence allowing Brew to score his first try.
Treviso got themselves back into the game when they exploited turn-over ball to score a try of their own and then took the lead through a penalty.
Some enterprising play from Will Harries nearly brought a try from a chip and chase but was denied by opposite number, Luke McLean. It was Harries' last play of the game as injured forced him off being replaced by young Hallam Amos. The Friday 13th jinx seemed to strike again when injured Sam Parry was replaced by Steve Jones after 33 minutes.
Just as half time was approaching Treviso attacked trough the middle and a loose pass was taken by Aled Brew who ran the half the length of the field for the touchdown, Adam Hughes converted and it looked like the Dragons would go into half time leading but again Treviso, with the last play of the half brought he scores level at 18-18 with a McLean try in the corner.
The Dragons came out in the second half looking eager to get some more points and using fast ball at every opportunity initially stunned Treviso. Toby Faletau crafted a scoring opportunity and Adam Hughes converted it to give the Dragons another 7 point lead. This lead was to last only 5 minutes as a Robling kick was charged down allowing Kris Burton to collect and score.
Treviso then seemed to take control of the game in the Dragons' half and got their noses in front when Burton got his 'full-house' with a drop goal. Both teams played some good rugby looking for that elusive 4 try bonus point and after a yellow card for both teams a Jason Tovey pass, who replaced Robling moments earlier, was intercepted and stretched the Italian's lead to 25-33.
With 5 minutes left another yellow card for Treviso gave the Dragons some more hope and Hughes broke through and scored under the posts, followed by his own conversion.
Despite pushing on in the last minute the Dragons failed to find another score leaving it as Dragons 32 - Treviso 33.
