Dragons Head Coach Darren Edwards is feeling positive following the region’s performance in their opening outing of the new season.
“I thought we started where we left off in our attacking game there was some really nice stuff we saw there. I think we'll be judged on the strength of our squad and the most important thing for me is bringing all those young players on in the second half and they maintained the intensity and shaped our game and we saw some good performances from some players that have been out for a very long time.
“Those players are the strength of the squad: we need people competing for positions. Ultimately you want to get two guys competing for one spot and I think the guys that came on really wanted a Wales shirt this year, and although we got the guys in the Welsh squad I'm looking forward to the next batch of guys coming through wanting a place in the Dragons.
“There were some promising performances - particularly from our new players - I thought Joe Bedford played very well the first half and there when Wayne came on he also played very well. If we have two nines competing and playing as well as they were our team is going to function.
“Tom Brown showed some obvious ball-carrying ability and Jevon Groves coming through at six I thought his game was excellent too. And that's what we forget - two of our back row players are actually playing for Wales at the moment and your back row players are the ones who cause the distraction in the game and I'm looking forward to the day when we have them all back.
“Mike Poole had an excellent game on the wing - particularly after being out for a year – he looks like he’s never been away from the training ground and you got other guys who've never left the training ground - possibly a crowd favourite after the one tackle. It's a great story for Mike and where he comes from, playing for us out there and doing well.
And Edwards appreciated the 2600 crowd who came down to Rodney Parade for the game, pointing out that the atmosphere at the region has been crucial in aiding the Dragons’ performances.
“I certainly feel a change of interest in the region and if we can maintain our momentum on the field as well there are great things to come. This is a partnership here and every person who walks through that door helps the cause and we'll try our best to make them proud.”
“I thought we started where we left off in our attacking game there was some really nice stuff we saw there. I think we'll be judged on the strength of our squad and the most important thing for me is bringing all those young players on in the second half and they maintained the intensity and shaped our game and we saw some good performances from some players that have been out for a very long time.
“Those players are the strength of the squad: we need people competing for positions. Ultimately you want to get two guys competing for one spot and I think the guys that came on really wanted a Wales shirt this year, and although we got the guys in the Welsh squad I'm looking forward to the next batch of guys coming through wanting a place in the Dragons.
“There were some promising performances - particularly from our new players - I thought Joe Bedford played very well the first half and there when Wayne came on he also played very well. If we have two nines competing and playing as well as they were our team is going to function.
“Tom Brown showed some obvious ball-carrying ability and Jevon Groves coming through at six I thought his game was excellent too. And that's what we forget - two of our back row players are actually playing for Wales at the moment and your back row players are the ones who cause the distraction in the game and I'm looking forward to the day when we have them all back.
“Mike Poole had an excellent game on the wing - particularly after being out for a year – he looks like he’s never been away from the training ground and you got other guys who've never left the training ground - possibly a crowd favourite after the one tackle. It's a great story for Mike and where he comes from, playing for us out there and doing well.
And Edwards appreciated the 2600 crowd who came down to Rodney Parade for the game, pointing out that the atmosphere at the region has been crucial in aiding the Dragons’ performances.
“I certainly feel a change of interest in the region and if we can maintain our momentum on the field as well there are great things to come. This is a partnership here and every person who walks through that door helps the cause and we'll try our best to make them proud.”
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