Newport Gwent Dragons displayed all their usual traits of grit and determination in Perpignan in the opening round of the Heineken Cup competition but it wasn’t enough as they lost 23-19, however, they deservedly picked up a losing bonus point.
The visitors outscored the hosts by three tries to two and came within a whisker of securing the victory but the French side on their home patch proved too strong.
Gareth Wyatt scored an early try to give The Dragons a 5-3 lead, however, they faced a 16-5 half time deficit as Guilhem Guirado scored a try for his side and Cedric Rosalen kicked 11 points.
Rosalen kicked an early penalty for his side but Wyatt scored the first try of the game when fullback Jerome Perical failed to collect Richard Mustoe’s kick and Wyatt pounced on the loose ball.
Perpignan hit back five minutes later when Guirado scored a try, the hooker barged his way over for the converted try.
Two further penalties from the boot of Rosalen have the home side the advantage at half time.
However, The Dragons started the second half brightly taking the attack to Perpignan and replacement Joe Bearman on for Dan Lydiate who was stretchered off in the first half stormed over for a try. Ceri Sweeney’s conversion reduced the deficit to four points. However, just as The Dragons started to assert some dominance on the game Henry Tuilagi struck as he bulldozed his way over for the try and re-established the 11 point lead.
Perpignan were then reduced to 14 men with Nathan Hines sent to the sin bin, with the man advantage The Dragons hit back with a Ceri Sweeney try which sealed the bonus point for The Dragons but they were unable to secure the victory.
The visitors outscored the hosts by three tries to two and came within a whisker of securing the victory but the French side on their home patch proved too strong.
Gareth Wyatt scored an early try to give The Dragons a 5-3 lead, however, they faced a 16-5 half time deficit as Guilhem Guirado scored a try for his side and Cedric Rosalen kicked 11 points.
Rosalen kicked an early penalty for his side but Wyatt scored the first try of the game when fullback Jerome Perical failed to collect Richard Mustoe’s kick and Wyatt pounced on the loose ball.
Perpignan hit back five minutes later when Guirado scored a try, the hooker barged his way over for the converted try.
Two further penalties from the boot of Rosalen have the home side the advantage at half time.
However, The Dragons started the second half brightly taking the attack to Perpignan and replacement Joe Bearman on for Dan Lydiate who was stretchered off in the first half stormed over for a try. Ceri Sweeney’s conversion reduced the deficit to four points. However, just as The Dragons started to assert some dominance on the game Henry Tuilagi struck as he bulldozed his way over for the try and re-established the 11 point lead.
Perpignan were then reduced to 14 men with Nathan Hines sent to the sin bin, with the man advantage The Dragons hit back with a Ceri Sweeney try which sealed the bonus point for The Dragons but they were unable to secure the victory.
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