Rodney Parade played host to a brutal pre-season matchon Friday night, which saw Newport Gwent Dragons beat their English counterparts. The weeks of pre-season training paid off as the Dragons managed to win a close match that threatened to escape them having not capitalised on their chances.
Newport Gwent Dragons failed to benefit from their dominance in the first half, with Warriors securing the only try of the half through Willie Walker. Early season ill-disciplines cost both teams, with Dragons showing the most promise, but falling at the final hurdle. James Arlidge scored the only points for the region as the Men of Gwent trailed by 7-6 at the half time whistle.
The second half lacked the quality of the first, until a moment of inspiration from the Dragons saw Will Harries touchdown underneath the posts for his debut try. The Rodney Parade faithful pushed the Dragons over the line as they dominated the rest of proceedings with Shaun Connor slotting a conversion and penalty before full-time.
The opening minutes belonged to the Dragons as Worcester appeared sloppy in the early exchanges. However it was a Dragons mistake that saw the first points on the board, as Wayne Evans pass was intercepted by Alex Grove. Aled Brew managed to catch the young Grove, but his controversial offload enabled Worcester to scramble the ball over the line, with Chris Latham popping the ball off to Walker inches short, before the New Zealander converted his try.
An instant response by wing Richard Fussell was chalked off - the ref deeming that crossing had blocked the Warriors defence. But Arlidge reduced the deficit immediately with a well-struck penalty in the 11th minute, after the Warriors failure to deal with the Dragons scrum collapsed.
There were many encouraging performances for the new look Dragons, with Tom Riley ,making a sharp break but just missing his final target as Latham again covered remarkably to save Worcester. However the visitor’s defence couldn’t legally hold the pressure, as Will Bowley was sin-binned for cynical play, after he tripped the chasing Fussell just shy of the 22. Arlidge slotted the three points from the resultant penalty to trail by one point at 6-7.
The Men of Gwent pushed to find the much needed try, with Wayne Evans controlling the breakdown superbly, before Arlidge dinked the ball over the blitz defence to find Jason Tovey in the corner. But the dynamic full-back was adjudged to have obstructed Grove in the build-up.
Aled Brew looked very dangerous in attack, slicing the Warriors attack at every counter-attack, but Warriors star player Latham again locked the door in the Dragons face. Although, this time Latham stayed down with a shoulder injury that saw last season prematurely ended for him. But the 78 times capped Australian wouldn’t lie down realising his team were against the cosh.
With eight minutes left in the half the Warriors fan feared the worst for young centre Greg King who was steamrollered by Dragons captain Tom Willis. King’s experience against the Dragons won’t leave him with great memories having left the field both times with concussion after hefty collisions. Dragons also lost Bedwas prop Phil Price to a knee injury, with the experienced Ali McKenzie replacing him.
The end of the half wasn’t proving any better for the Warriors who lost captain and former England flanker Pat Sanderson to the bin, having killed the ball in an attacking position. However Dragons still failed to cross the whitewash as ill-discipline seemed to be the winner.
Half-time saw a host of changes as Paul Turner gave all his replacements 40 minutes to impress. The pack saw five changes, but didn’t seem to affect their dominance up-front. However, the Warriors quickly turned over possession and looked dangerous on the break with the pace of Marcel Garvey and Miles Benjamin a real threat.
Worcester extended their small advantage after 54 minutes when Ashley Smith was harshly penalised for not rolling away from the tackle, when he appeared to be trapped. Walker added the penalty to his collection leaving the score at 6-10.
More opportunities went begging as they game became a little disjointed, before James Collins took a worrying knock that saw him stretchered off and will miss today’s friendly with Ebbw Vale at Sixways Stadium. The Midland based club showed heart in defence, with 163 capped former Dragon Adam Black leading by example as they used the retuning maul to good effect.
However, the forwards couldn’t stop the sublime score for debutant Will Harries. Martyn Thomas started the move in his 22 before releasing Brew. But Brew slipped only to find James Harris on a lung bursting run to set-up the try. Shaun Connor converted with ease.
The Dragons threatened to lose it with a wild pass in their dead ball line, but when Connor thumped a penalty over from the halfway line the match was sealed, earning the Dragons an early season boost.
Newport Gwent Dragons Team: Jason Tovey (Martyn Thomas 40), Aled Brew (Richard Fussell 71), Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Richard Fussell (Will Harries 40), James Arlidge (Shaun Connor 40), Wayne Evans (Alex Walker 40), Phil Price (Ali McKenzie 34), Tom Willis (C) (Steve Jones 40), Ben Castle (Nigel Hall 40), Adam Jones, Luke Charteris (Rob Sidoli 40), Dan Lydiate, Gavin Thomas (James Harris 40), Lewis Evans (Grant Webb 40).
Worcester Warriors: Chris Latham, Marcel Garvey, Alex Grove, Greg King (Sammy Tuitupou 33, Callum Macrae 40), Miles Benjamin, Willie Walker, Jonny Arr (Ryan Powell 56), Adam Black, Alek Lutui (Chris Fortey 56), Jack Guilding (Oliver Sourgens 47), Will Bowley (Greg Rawlinson 50), Criag Gillies, Tom Wood, Pat Sanderson (C), James Rodwell (James Collins 50).
Referee: Gwyn Morris
Attendance: 3,235
Written by Gareth Alred
Newport Gwent Dragons failed to benefit from their dominance in the first half, with Warriors securing the only try of the half through Willie Walker. Early season ill-disciplines cost both teams, with Dragons showing the most promise, but falling at the final hurdle. James Arlidge scored the only points for the region as the Men of Gwent trailed by 7-6 at the half time whistle.
The second half lacked the quality of the first, until a moment of inspiration from the Dragons saw Will Harries touchdown underneath the posts for his debut try. The Rodney Parade faithful pushed the Dragons over the line as they dominated the rest of proceedings with Shaun Connor slotting a conversion and penalty before full-time.
The opening minutes belonged to the Dragons as Worcester appeared sloppy in the early exchanges. However it was a Dragons mistake that saw the first points on the board, as Wayne Evans pass was intercepted by Alex Grove. Aled Brew managed to catch the young Grove, but his controversial offload enabled Worcester to scramble the ball over the line, with Chris Latham popping the ball off to Walker inches short, before the New Zealander converted his try.
An instant response by wing Richard Fussell was chalked off - the ref deeming that crossing had blocked the Warriors defence. But Arlidge reduced the deficit immediately with a well-struck penalty in the 11th minute, after the Warriors failure to deal with the Dragons scrum collapsed.
There were many encouraging performances for the new look Dragons, with Tom Riley ,making a sharp break but just missing his final target as Latham again covered remarkably to save Worcester. However the visitor’s defence couldn’t legally hold the pressure, as Will Bowley was sin-binned for cynical play, after he tripped the chasing Fussell just shy of the 22. Arlidge slotted the three points from the resultant penalty to trail by one point at 6-7.
The Men of Gwent pushed to find the much needed try, with Wayne Evans controlling the breakdown superbly, before Arlidge dinked the ball over the blitz defence to find Jason Tovey in the corner. But the dynamic full-back was adjudged to have obstructed Grove in the build-up.
Aled Brew looked very dangerous in attack, slicing the Warriors attack at every counter-attack, but Warriors star player Latham again locked the door in the Dragons face. Although, this time Latham stayed down with a shoulder injury that saw last season prematurely ended for him. But the 78 times capped Australian wouldn’t lie down realising his team were against the cosh.
With eight minutes left in the half the Warriors fan feared the worst for young centre Greg King who was steamrollered by Dragons captain Tom Willis. King’s experience against the Dragons won’t leave him with great memories having left the field both times with concussion after hefty collisions. Dragons also lost Bedwas prop Phil Price to a knee injury, with the experienced Ali McKenzie replacing him.
The end of the half wasn’t proving any better for the Warriors who lost captain and former England flanker Pat Sanderson to the bin, having killed the ball in an attacking position. However Dragons still failed to cross the whitewash as ill-discipline seemed to be the winner.
Half-time saw a host of changes as Paul Turner gave all his replacements 40 minutes to impress. The pack saw five changes, but didn’t seem to affect their dominance up-front. However, the Warriors quickly turned over possession and looked dangerous on the break with the pace of Marcel Garvey and Miles Benjamin a real threat.
Worcester extended their small advantage after 54 minutes when Ashley Smith was harshly penalised for not rolling away from the tackle, when he appeared to be trapped. Walker added the penalty to his collection leaving the score at 6-10.
More opportunities went begging as they game became a little disjointed, before James Collins took a worrying knock that saw him stretchered off and will miss today’s friendly with Ebbw Vale at Sixways Stadium. The Midland based club showed heart in defence, with 163 capped former Dragon Adam Black leading by example as they used the retuning maul to good effect.
However, the forwards couldn’t stop the sublime score for debutant Will Harries. Martyn Thomas started the move in his 22 before releasing Brew. But Brew slipped only to find James Harris on a lung bursting run to set-up the try. Shaun Connor converted with ease.
The Dragons threatened to lose it with a wild pass in their dead ball line, but when Connor thumped a penalty over from the halfway line the match was sealed, earning the Dragons an early season boost.
Newport Gwent Dragons Team: Jason Tovey (Martyn Thomas 40), Aled Brew (Richard Fussell 71), Tom Riley, Ashley Smith, Richard Fussell (Will Harries 40), James Arlidge (Shaun Connor 40), Wayne Evans (Alex Walker 40), Phil Price (Ali McKenzie 34), Tom Willis (C) (Steve Jones 40), Ben Castle (Nigel Hall 40), Adam Jones, Luke Charteris (Rob Sidoli 40), Dan Lydiate, Gavin Thomas (James Harris 40), Lewis Evans (Grant Webb 40).
Worcester Warriors: Chris Latham, Marcel Garvey, Alex Grove, Greg King (Sammy Tuitupou 33, Callum Macrae 40), Miles Benjamin, Willie Walker, Jonny Arr (Ryan Powell 56), Adam Black, Alek Lutui (Chris Fortey 56), Jack Guilding (Oliver Sourgens 47), Will Bowley (Greg Rawlinson 50), Criag Gillies, Tom Wood, Pat Sanderson (C), James Rodwell (James Collins 50).
Referee: Gwyn Morris
Attendance: 3,235
Written by Gareth Alred
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