Dragons v Bordeaux Match Report

Dragons have sealed a bonus point win against Bordeaux-Begles thanks to the four tries they ran in during the second half, following a slow beginning to the match.

The Men of Gwent needed to beat the French giants by nine points and seal a bonus point win in order for them to be in the running for the best runner-up and go through into the quarter-finals. 

It was our visitors who struck first through the boot of fly-half Ben Volavola, with him successfully slotting a penalty.

The Dragons didn’t respond until 20 minutes after when Welsh International hooker Elliot Dee went over for the first try of the evening, but Gavin Henson hit the posts with the conversion being missed.

Despite the Dragons dominance, early on they were unable to convert their chances into the points seeing the first half end on 5-3.

Half Time: Dragons 5 – Bordeaux-Begles 3

The second half began as the first half did for the Dragons, as they scored a try from a powerful scrum; skipper Cory Hill the try scorer. Henson’s conversion saw the home side extend their lead to 12-3. It was the visitors who struck next as they found a gap in the Dragons defence for wing Fa’asiu Fuatai to cross. The conversion was successful from the Frenchmen seeing them narrow the gap to 12-10.

Following this Bordeaux-Begles took the lead through a try from scrum-half Jules Gimbert which was converted by replacement fly-half Tiaan Schoeman. An impressive charge down from Ashton Hewitt at the restart saw Hewitt collect and dot down, with Henson converting - the visitors lead didn’t last long 19-17.

With 20 minutes left on the clock the Dragons weren’t slowing down, and tighthead prop Lloyd Fairbrother dotted down for the home side fourth try with the successful conversion coming from Dorian Jones.

A big defensive effort from the Dragons followed as the Frenchmen piled on the pressure in the dying quarter however it was the Men of Gwent who prevailed with young flanker Aaron Wainwirght making a neat break which led to the penalty and a driving lineout. The visitors managed to stop that, but the Dragons sealed the win with a try from Pat Howard which Jones converted.

Full Time: Dragons 33 – Bordeaux-Begles 17

Referee: Tom Foley (Eng)

Man of the Match: Cory Hill

Attendance: 4,017