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Newport Gwent Dragons returned home from a mixed week in Italy looking to build on their first win of the Amlin Challenge Cup season. - 14/12/2012 13:25
Newport Gwent Dragons returned home from a mixed week in Italy looking to build on their first win of the Amlin Challenge Cup season.
The Dragons remained in Italy following their league defeat to Treviso to claim a comfortable 33-0 win over Mogliano at Stadio Maurizio Quaggia.
However the victory came at a potentially heavy price for Darren Edwards' side.
Jevon Groves awaits to learn his fate after he was sent off for a tip-tackle, that followed a red card for Will Harries the previous week.
And the Dragons are also waiting to discover the extent of second-row Ian Nimmo's knee injury.
However there were more positives than negatives for the Dragons with second-row forwards Adam Jones and Andrew Coombs returning from injury.
Jones is expected to return from a facial wound while Coombs made only his second appearance of the season following knee and groin injuries.
Wing Mike Poole also made his first regional appearance for more than a year following on-going knee problems.
Director of rugby Robert Beale said: “It was terrific to have both Andrew and Mike back on the pitch. They both came through unscathed and were both very influential in what was a tough encounter.
“It may have ultimately been a comfortable win but Mogliano were very physical and that was ideal for Mike and Andrew.”
Centre Adam Hughes is out with a hip injury.
Match Facts
• Victory over Mogliano was the first time the Dragons have ever nilled a team in this tournament.
• Mogliano have lost all three Amlin Challenge Cup matches to date, at an aggregate score of 163-19.
• The Italian side have been forced to make more tackles than any other side this season, an average of 132 per game so far.
• Newport are one of just two sides to win 100% of their scrums in the tournament this season.
Newport Gwent Dragons won back-to-back matches against Italian newcomers Rugby Mogliano as they made light of hugely challenging conditions at Rodney Parade to romp home with a bonus point 53-3 Round 4 win that takes them level with Bayonne on 11 points but five adrift of group pacesetters London Wasps. - 16/12/2012 19:29
Newport Gwent Dragons won back-to-back matches against Italian newcomers Rugby Mogliano as they made light of hugely challenging conditions at Rodney Parade to romp home with a bonus point 53-3 Round 4 win that takes them level with Bayonne on 11 points but five adrift of group pacesetters London Wasps.
The Dragons had returned from Italy a week earlier with a 33-0 win under their belts but now they face tougher times in the New Year with their trip to Bayonne and welcoming Wasps to Wales.
And Lewis Evans’ team – the flanker in fine rampaging man-of-the-match form – had the bonus point under lock and key shortly before the break, lock Andrew Coombes charging down an attempted clearance and popping the ball up for supporting scrum half Wayne Evans to dive over in the corner.
The match started as something of the Daniel Evans show, the outside half scoring the first try after just six minutes, converting himself and then adding a penalty goal.
Wing Michael Poole won his won kick-and-chase for the next before their superior scrum power earned the forwards a penalty try as the Rugby Mogliano eight disintegrated as they were sent into rapid retreat.
It took the Dragons until midway through the second period to score again, centre Patrick Leach set free to stroll over with the over-worked Mogliano defence nowhere in sight.
The wilting visiting defence was then split by replacement Jonathan Evans but the spirit was still strong as they tried to put pressure on the Dragons line – only for replacement prop Phil Price to profit from a Dragons break-out and Jack Dixon wrap it up in injury time with the last.
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