Dragons v Ulster Match Report
The 24 year old fly half, who returned to Gwent was successful with four penalties and a drop goal which put the Dragons firmly into the lead against last season’s finalists. Tovey accounted for all of the 15 home points to take his career total to 576 – six more than Sweeney.
It was a touching start to the opening round of the RaboDirect Pro12 league as there was a minute silence for both Marilyn Brown, wife of major benefactor at Rodney Parade Tony Brown and for former Wales international Cliff Morgan.
Tovey almost immediately fired over a difficult penalty which went wide of the posts but the Dragons kept pilling on the pressure with Lewis Evans making a break for the try line; coming up short.
The Dragons went on to win a line out and Tovey made use of the space and got the drop kick taking the scores to 3-0.
Theres a scrum to the home side but they unfortunately lose it resulting in a penalty given to Ulster right in front of the posts; Paddy Jackson stepped up to the plate and he made it though which evens the scores up to 3-3 with 13 minutes gone.
Tovey then put the Dragons back into the lead with a penalty kick taking them into the lead 6-3;
Ulster responded as Roger Wilson made it across the white wash, but Jackson missed the conversion and a following penalty making the scores 6-8 to the visitors after 38 minutes.
Half time Dragons 6-8 Ulster
Ulster rugby again make some sloppy errors and Dragons take the penalty, Tovey again hits it directly between the posts edging the Dragons into the lead by one point 9-8.
Ulster reply with a 60m break but they come up short and don’t make the try line.
Its then a long distance penalty to the Dragons and Tovey puts it right between the posts; scores stand at 12-8.
There's another penalty kick for the Dragons as Jason Tovey helps them creep further into the lead witht the scores standing at 15-8 with nine minutes remaining.
Ulster gave everything to snatch a draw but were unable to breach a brave home defence.
Dragons: D Evans; T Prydie, P Leach, J Dixon, H Amos; J Tovey, R Rees; A Coundley (P Price), R Thomas, D Way (F Chaparro), M Screech (A Jones), A Coombs (capt), J Groves (N Talei), L Evans, N Cudd
Pens: Tovey (4)
Drop-goal: Tovey
Ulster: J Payne; A Trimble, L Marshall, C Farrell (D Cave), D McIlwaine; P Jackson (J McKinney), P Marshall (I Porter); C Black (T Court), R Herring, R Lutton (D Fitzpatrick), J Muller (capt), D Tuohy (L Stevenson), R Diack, R Wilson, C Henry (S Doyle).
Try: Wilson
Pen: Jackson
Referee: Claudio Blessano (Italy)
Attendance: 5,165
