It’s been seven weeks since the last competitive home fixture when the Dragons lost by 20 points to 9 against the reigning Heineken Cup champions here at Rodney Parade. Munster are flying high again this season at the top of the Magners League and face Leinster in a semi-final en route to their defence of the Heineken Cup in early May.
With a large gap in their competitive fixtures, the Dragons played a friendly match against the Scarlets at the end of March and emerged victorious over our West Wales rivals by 32 points to 24. Next up was an away trip in the Magners League to face Connacht three weeks ago. The Dragons led 10-3 at half time in Galway but were simply humiliated in the second half when Connacht scored five tries for a final score of 39 points to 17.
Ten days ago, the Dragons arranged another friendly fixture to get much needed match practice, this time against Worcester Warriors. The Dragons secured a runaway win against a young Worcester side by 41 points to 3.
Now attention turns to the business end of the season and with five games left, the Dragons must now focus on their goal of achieving automatic qualification for the Heineken Cup for next season. To do so, they need to finish above either Cardiff Blues or the Scarlets in the Magners League. Currently, the Blues are just one point above the Dragons in a position that defies the form they have showed in their cup competition runs. The Scarlets are five points ahead but having played one more game than the Dragons.
The result in Galway three weeks ago was a huge disappointment and has really put the focus into winning today’s game against Connacht. Defeat would not only scupper their chances of achieving automatic qualification but would also jeopardise the Dragons chances of even taking part in a play off with the third placed Italian team.
After today’s game, the Dragons still have four games left to play including the re-arranged fixtures against the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues which were postponed due to their cup competition commitments. The last home game of the season for the Dragons will be on Saturday, 16th May against Leinster (kick off 5.30pm).
TRAVEL WITH THE SUPPORTERS CLUB: The Supporters’ Club will be offering transport to selected Newport Gwent Dragons away matches this season, subject to sufficient demand from supporters. We will be offering transport to the Dragons Magners League match at the Ospreys when that game has been rearranged. Places on the coach can be booked at the Supporters’ Club table in the Rodney Hall or by telephoning the Newport Ticket Office on 01633 670690 from two weeks before each match.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Once again this season, the Supporters’ Club will be organising the Dragons Player of the Month awards. You can vote for your favourite player each month by completing a voting form on the Supporters’ Club table in the Rodney Hall at any home game. We caught up with a couple of outstanding presentations after the last home game against Munster and our congratulations go to Joe Bearman (November) and Jason Tovey (February). We hope to catch up with all the remaining presentations after the match against Leinster in three weeks time.
SUPPORTERS CLUB PRIZE DRAW: To be in with a chance of winning club shop vouchers (£25 adults and £10 juniors) all you have to do is join the Supporters’ Club. Application forms are available at the Supporters’ Club table in the Rodney Hall or by downloading from our website. Congratulations to the latest winners – Ron Bailey (Adult - £25) and Iean Coombes (Junior - £10).
JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB: Newport Rugby Supporters Club remains vibrant and active. Last season, we invested over £2,000 in financially supporting the teams playing at Rodney Parade and returning value to our members. We also arranged a number of social events, including a charity evening which raised over £2,500. We can only do this with the invaluable support of you, our members, and the more members we have the more we can do to support club projects. Membership still costs just £3.50 for adults and £2 for juniors and seniors and that includes a free ‘only with membership’ lapel badge!
The benefits of membership include:
· Free Supporters’ Club Lapel Badge
· Free entry into the Members Prize Draw
· Entitlement to travel on coaches to away games
· Social Events arranged throughout the year
· Opportunity for Junior members to be a match day mascot at a Newport RFC match
· A vote for the Newport RFC Player of the Year at the end of the season
HOW TO JOIN: Membership of the vibrant Newport Rugby Official Supporters Club costs only £3.50 for adults and £2.00 for juniors (under-16’s) and seniors. Membership forms can be downloaded from the website or completed at the Supporters’ Club table in the Rodney Hall.
After the Dragons trip to Edinburgh in two weeks time, we look forward to welcoming you all back to Rodney Parade for the Dragons last home game of the season against Leinster on Saturday, 16th May 2009 (kick off 5.30pm).
www.newportrugbysupportersclub.com
With a large gap in their competitive fixtures, the Dragons played a friendly match against the Scarlets at the end of March and emerged victorious over our West Wales rivals by 32 points to 24. Next up was an away trip in the Magners League to face Connacht three weeks ago. The Dragons led 10-3 at half time in Galway but were simply humiliated in the second half when Connacht scored five tries for a final score of 39 points to 17.
Ten days ago, the Dragons arranged another friendly fixture to get much needed match practice, this time against Worcester Warriors. The Dragons secured a runaway win against a young Worcester side by 41 points to 3.
Now attention turns to the business end of the season and with five games left, the Dragons must now focus on their goal of achieving automatic qualification for the Heineken Cup for next season. To do so, they need to finish above either Cardiff Blues or the Scarlets in the Magners League. Currently, the Blues are just one point above the Dragons in a position that defies the form they have showed in their cup competition runs. The Scarlets are five points ahead but having played one more game than the Dragons.
The result in Galway three weeks ago was a huge disappointment and has really put the focus into winning today’s game against Connacht. Defeat would not only scupper their chances of achieving automatic qualification but would also jeopardise the Dragons chances of even taking part in a play off with the third placed Italian team.
After today’s game, the Dragons still have four games left to play including the re-arranged fixtures against the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues which were postponed due to their cup competition commitments. The last home game of the season for the Dragons will be on Saturday, 16th May against Leinster (kick off 5.30pm).
TRAVEL WITH THE SUPPORTERS CLUB: The Supporters’ Club will be offering transport to selected Newport Gwent Dragons away matches this season, subject to sufficient demand from supporters. We will be offering transport to the Dragons Magners League match at the Ospreys when that game has been rearranged. Places on the coach can be booked at the Supporters’ Club table in the Rodney Hall or by telephoning the Newport Ticket Office on 01633 670690 from two weeks before each match.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Once again this season, the Supporters’ Club will be organising the Dragons Player of the Month awards. You can vote for your favourite player each month by completing a voting form on the Supporters’ Club table in the Rodney Hall at any home game. We caught up with a couple of outstanding presentations after the last home game against Munster and our congratulations go to Joe Bearman (November) and Jason Tovey (February). We hope to catch up with all the remaining presentations after the match against Leinster in three weeks time.
SUPPORTERS CLUB PRIZE DRAW: To be in with a chance of winning club shop vouchers (£25 adults and £10 juniors) all you have to do is join the Supporters’ Club. Application forms are available at the Supporters’ Club table in the Rodney Hall or by downloading from our website. Congratulations to the latest winners – Ron Bailey (Adult - £25) and Iean Coombes (Junior - £10).
JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB: Newport Rugby Supporters Club remains vibrant and active. Last season, we invested over £2,000 in financially supporting the teams playing at Rodney Parade and returning value to our members. We also arranged a number of social events, including a charity evening which raised over £2,500. We can only do this with the invaluable support of you, our members, and the more members we have the more we can do to support club projects. Membership still costs just £3.50 for adults and £2 for juniors and seniors and that includes a free ‘only with membership’ lapel badge!
The benefits of membership include:
· Free Supporters’ Club Lapel Badge
· Free entry into the Members Prize Draw
· Entitlement to travel on coaches to away games
· Social Events arranged throughout the year
· Opportunity for Junior members to be a match day mascot at a Newport RFC match
· A vote for the Newport RFC Player of the Year at the end of the season
HOW TO JOIN: Membership of the vibrant Newport Rugby Official Supporters Club costs only £3.50 for adults and £2.00 for juniors (under-16’s) and seniors. Membership forms can be downloaded from the website or completed at the Supporters’ Club table in the Rodney Hall.
After the Dragons trip to Edinburgh in two weeks time, we look forward to welcoming you all back to Rodney Parade for the Dragons last home game of the season against Leinster on Saturday, 16th May 2009 (kick off 5.30pm).
www.newportrugbysupportersclub.com
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