The Dragons beat Guinness Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers 24-15 to get their Powergen Cup campaign off to a fantastic start.
The Dragons beat a star studded Tigers line up with the forwards really taking the game to the English side and despite the driving rain looked to spread the ball wide at every available opportunity. Michael Owen was back for The Dragons following his 10 week pre season training and made a real impact as did Kevin Morgan who was back at his cutting edge best and was a real threat in attack while Hal Luscombe was a strong presence in mid field.
Man of the Match Craig Warlow controlled the game superbly well in atrocious conditions and recorded a full house of points and a personal points tally of 19. The Dragons led 18-10 at the break thanks to a Warlow try and a Ben Breeze try. The Dragons maintained the pressure on Leicester never giving them any space and forcing them into making errors. This was Leicester's first defeat of the season despite boasting big names throughout the side.
Newport club player Andrew Brown made his senior debut for The Dragons and performed well finding his teammates in the lineout and being a presence in the loose. The Dragons first try came through Warlow, Morgan picked up a loose ball and burst through midfield before finding Owen who sent Warlow racing over the try line.
Just four minutes later The Dragons scored again, Warlow made another timely break but was hauled down just short. The ball was recycled quickly and Gareth Baber found Ben Breeze on his shoulder who scored under the posts. Warlow added the conversion to put The Dragons 12-0 ahead. Leicester hit back on the half hour mark with Shane Jennings scoring under the posts.
The Dragons responded with Warlow adding two penalties to give The Dragons an eight point lead at half time. The rain and conditions worsened over the ten minute break at half time and Leicester had the wind advantage, however, it was Warlow who kicked over a drop goal to keep The Dragons ahead.
Five minutes from full time Warlow landed his third penalty. Leicester replacement Leon Lloyd scored a breakaway try one minute from full time but it was too little too late for the English side. Speaking after the match coach Paul Turner commented,
