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Newport Gwent Dragons will aim to maintain their 100 per cent home record against Italian side Rugby Mogliano in Pool 2 of the Amlin Challenge Cup. - 10/10/2013 09:55
Newport Gwent Dragons will aim to maintain their 100 per cent home record against Italian side Rugby Mogliano in Pool 2 of the Amlin Challenge Cup.
The Dragons have already beaten Ulster, Scarlets and Zebre at Rodney Parade in this season’s PRO12, and director of rugby Lyn Jones believes the Welsh region can make their home venue a fortress by claiming another win over the part-timers as they bid for a knock-out place.
“It's a high-profile competition and we need to do well to improve the brand. We're a region that have drawn a line in the sand and want to move forward,” said Jones.
“Results and performances on the field are very influential in how quickly the business can repair itself from things that have gone on in the past four or five years off the field.”
The Dragons and Mogliano are joined by Bath and Bordeaux-Begles, who meet in France on Saturday night.
However, the home side will be expecting maximum points from their opener, having recorded a double over Mogliano in last season’s competition with 53-3 and 33-0 successes.
And, while Jones believes his men are in the toughest group, the ex-Ospreys and London Welsh coach reckons the Men of Gwent can quality for the latter stages of the tournament.
“It's going to be a tough group and it'll be tight between Bath, ourselves and Bordeaux-Begles. It will probably be the toughest group in the Amlin Challenge Cup,2 added Jones.
“If we can be in with a shout and in charge of our own destiny in Rounds 5 and 6 then we'll be confident that we can get through. For the credibility of the business, we need to perform well and get through to the quarter-finals.”
Vidéo de l'action ayant conduit à la citation d'Adam Jaulhac - 08/11/2013 13:07
Newport Gwent Dragons started their Amlin Challenge Cup campaign in style as they eased past Rugby Mogliano at Rodney Parade.
The Dragons scored seven tries in a 50-8 win, with Kris Burton adding 15 points with the boot.
Mogliano battled bravely throughout but left South Wales with just a Nicol Fadalto penalty and a late Tommaso Boni try to show for their efforts.
Lyn Jones’ Welsh side had the bonus-point sewn up just past the half hour as centre Ross Wardle, prop Francisco Tetaz Chaparro, scrum-half Jonathan Evans and wing Will Harries all crossed the visitors’ line.
Wardle danced through from close-range after the Dragons created an overlap on the right after just seven minutes, with Burton having already kicked a fourth minute penalty.
Mogliano held firm for much of the remainder of the first quarter and could have closed the gap had Fadalto not failed with his first penalty attempt. But the Dragons exerted their authority with a brace of tries in four minutes midway through the half as Chaparro powered over down the left before Evans sniped through for the third try moments later. With Burton slotting all three conversions, the Dragons were 24-0 to the good after as many minutes.
Fadalto got Mogliano off the mark four minutes later but Harries secured the bonus point when he dotted down after a clever flip pass from Tom Prydie following Evans’ quick tap penalty. Again, Burton converted as the Dragons took a 31-3 lead into the interval.
Mogliano refused to buckle after the break, though, and the third quarter almost ended scoreless. Nic Cudd and Enricco Endrizzi saw yellow for separate offences as both sides were reduced to 14 men early in the second period and the Dragons were unable to add to their tally until 59 minutes were on the clock. Harries grabbed his second and the Dragons’ fifth, with Burton converting from out wide to make it 38-3.
Blindside flanker Ieuan Evans quickly added a sixth, although Burton finally missed the target after five successful conversions and a penalty.
Replacement Dragons lock Adam Jones became the third player to be sin binned with 11 minutes remaining and Mogliano took advantage almost immediately as Boni scored a consolation try wide on the left.
The Dragons had the final word, though, as outside centre Adam Hughes claimed his side’s seventh score with five minutes remaining.
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