Newport Gwent Dragons' quest for European Challenge Cup glory continues following their emphatic 39-17 win over Brive at Rodney Parade.
The Dragons have for the first time in their short history reached the semi finals of a European competition following their six-try demolition of the previous Heineken Cup winners.
The Dragons knew they had to start strongly against the French side and that they did scoring a try after just four minutes and commanding a 24-7 half time lead which was extended to 31-7 just after the break. However, while they took their foot off the pedal and allowed Brive back into the game they ended on a high with a try from Aled Brew.
Up front The Dragons were strong and in the scrum had the upper hand over their opponents.
Captain Kevin Morgan got The Dragons first try, following a kick from centre Paul Emerick which he re-gathered and Michael Owen, Adam Black and Nathan Brew were all involved in the move before Morgan crossed for the opening score.
Morgan got The Dragons second with nearly 20 minutes on the clock and thus claimed his 24th try for the Men of Gwent.
Following a try from Brive Adam Black scored The Dragons third when Sweeney put a penalty kick to touch. Michael Owen won the resultant lineout and his back row team mates, Jamie Ringer and Colin Charvis took the move on before Black crashed over for the try. Sweeney's conversion took him past 200 points for the season and he doubled his points tally in the game when he landed the conversion from a penalty try. Gareth Wyatt broke down the wing only for a Brive player to deliberately knock the ball down and the referee awarded the penalty try.
At halftime The Dragons were 24-7 up and it soon became 31-7 when Ringer stole a Brive lineout to crash over for the try. Early in the second half the rain swept in but once it cleared Brive got back into the game. Centre Hufanga crossed for two tries in five minutes as they attempted a fight back.
But it was The Dragons who had the final say with Sweeney adding a penalty and Aled Brew crossed for a try
The Dragons quest, however, doesn't get any easier as now they have to travel to Clermont as a place in the final beckons.
