DRAGONS TOP MAGNERS LEAGUE

Newport Gwent Dragons opened their 2009/2010 Magners League campaign with a win over Ulster which saw them sitting at the top of the table after round 1. Newport Gwent Dragons opened their 2009/2010 Magners League campaign with a win over Ulster which saw them sitting at the top of the table after round 1.

Aled Brew, Richard Fussell and Ashley Smith all went over the line to open their accounts and sealed the convincing victory for the men of Gwent.

Speaking after the game, Head Coach Paul Turner said “We talked long and hard over the summer and today were able to put into action things we have worked very hard on in the pre-season. Two of the tries were moves straight off the training park and I’m just pleased for everybody that our season has got off to this start.”

Try scorer Richard Fussell said “I’m obviously really pleased to have got the try but the team played very well as a unit. I thought Tom Riley really stepped up to the mark today in particular. It’s always nice to see yourself at the top of the table but of course we’ll wait until Christmas to see where we are then! There’s plenty of confidence in the squad and we’re doing the right things in the right places and that really paid off today.”

The only blow to the Dragons’ performance was the exit of captain Tom Willis with a calf injury after 26 minutes. The New Zealand international is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks. All Black scrum half Danny Lee should be available for next week’s trip to Leinster.

Newport Gwent Dragons 23 - 6 Ulster (Rodney Parade, Newport) - 06 September 2009

SCORING SEQUENCE
13 mins: Aled Brew Try 5-0; 14 mins: James Arlidge Missed Conversion 5-0; 16 mins: Ian Humphreys Penalty 5-3; 21 mins: Ian Humphreys Missed Drop Goal 5-3; 26 mins: James Arlidge Penalty 8-3; 30 mins: Ian Humphreys Missed Penalty 8-3; 41 mins: James Arlidge Missed Penalty 8-3; 45 mins: James Arlidge Missed Penalty 8-3; Half Time 51 mins: Ian Humphreys Missed Penalty 8-3; 53 mins: James Arlidge Penalty 11-3; 59 mins: Ian Humphreys Penalty 11-6; 63 mins: Richard Fussell Try 16-6; 64 mins: James Arlidge Missed Conversion 16-6; 66 mins: Ashley Smith Try 21-6; 67 mins: Jason Tovey Conversion 23-6

Newport Gwent Dragons
Ali McKenzie, Tom Willis (capt), Nigel Hall, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate, Gavin Thomas, Joe Bearman, Wayne Evans, James Arlidge, Richard Fussell, Ashley Smith, Tom Riley, Aled Brew, Jason Tovey
Replacements: Steve Jones for Tom Willis (26), Hugh Gustafson for Dan Lydiate (41), Dan Lydiate for Hugh Gustafson (48), Hugh Gustafson for Ali McKenzie (57), Robert Sidoli for Adam Jones (60), Alex Walker for Wayne Evans (72), Gethin Robinson for Nigel Hall (77), Martyn Thomas for Jason Tovey (80)
Try: Aled Brew, Ashley Smith, Richard Fussell Con: Jason Tovey Miss Con: James Arlidge (2) Pen: James Arlidge (2) Miss Pen: James Arlidge (2)
Cards: 40: Ali McKenzie - Yellow

Ulster
Bryan Young, Andy Kyriacou, BJ Botha, Dan Tuohy, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry (capt), Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack, Isaac Boss, Ian Humphreys, Simon Danielli, Ian Whitten, Andrew Trimble, Timoci Nagusa, Bryn Cunningham
Replacements: Ed O'Donoghue for Ryan Caldwell (30), Paddy Wallace for Bryn Cunningham (32), Declan Fitzpatrick for Willie Faloon (41), Willie Faloon for Declan Fitzpatrick (48), Nigel Brady for Andy Kyriacou (57), Darren Cave for Timoci Nagusa (62), Paul Marshall for Isaac Boss (67), Thomas Anderson for Willie Faloon (69), Declan Fitzpatrick for BJ Botha (70), Isaac Boss for Ian Whitten (82)
Pen: Ian Humphreys (2) Miss Pen: Ian Humphreys (2) Miss DG: Ian Humphreys
Cards: 40: BJ Botha - Yellow

Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

Attendance: 4561