Dragons v Benetton Treviso Match Report
Jason Tovey, Ashley Smith and skipper Lee Byrne were among Lyn Jones’ eight changes from last weekend’s game against Glasgow Warriors. Tovey and Byrne started after recovering calf and shoulder injuries, while centre Smith made his first start of the season after suffering a toe injury last March.
The Dragons were first to add the points to the board after fly-half Jason Tovey kicked a penalty over. This fantastic array of defensive attack put the Men of Gwent further into the lead after Hallam Amos intercepted Andrea Pratichetti's to fellow wing Ludovico Nitoglia. Tovey converted.
Tovey and Amos combined once again to set up the try for the winger. As Powell gathered a high kick, Tovey made a break before passing to Amos who finished in the left hand corner, with Tovey adding the extras.
The Welsh Region scored the bonus point try after 46 mins of play, with Amos, Landman and Byrne combining to send Jonathan Evans crashing over the try line.
Treviso responded with their first try through Luamanu following a lineout before Powell was given his yellow card for his high swinging arm on Simone Favaro who did not have the ball.
The Italians were offside from a clearance kick immediately from the restart, allowing Tovey to make it 30-15 and he knocked over another penalty with the last kick.
Newport Gwent Dragons Team: Lee Byrne (c), Tom Prydie, Ben John, Ashley Smith, Hallam Amos, Jason Tovey, Jonathan Evans; Boris Stankovich, Elliot Dee, Dan Way, Cory Hill, Rynard Landman, Andy Powell, Nic Cudd, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: T. Rhys Thomas, Hugh Gustafson, Lloyd Fairbrother, James Thomas, Lewis Evans, Luc Jones, Angus O’Brien, Aled Brew.
Benetton Treviso Team: Jayden Hayward, Andrea Pratichetti, Michele Campagnaro, Luca Morisi, Ludovico Nitoglia, Joe Carlisle, James Ambrosini; Matteo Zanusso, Davide Giazzon, Rupert Harden, Antonio Pavanello (c), Marco Fuser, Simone Favaro, Marco Lazzaroni, Matt Luamanu.
Replacements: Amar Kudin, Matteo Muccignat, Romulo Acosta, Giovanni Maistri, Leo Auva’a, Francesco Minto, Alberto Sgarbi, Edoardo Gori.
Man of the Match: Hallam Amos (Dragons)
Referee: Andrew McMenemy
Attendance: 5,162
