Dragons edged out in 12-try cracker
A youthful Dragons RFC opened pre-season with a high-scoring 42-40 defeat to Hartpury University at Rodney Parade.
A Dragons side that included 12 Academy products in the starting line-up, played with plenty of pace and endeavour throughout against a well-drilled English outfit.
Scrum half Morgan Lloyd and wing Ewan Rosser (2) scored first half tries as Hartpury opened a 35-19 lead up at the break of an entertaining encounter.
Back came the Men of Gwent as tries from Evan Minto, Owen Conquer and Dane Blacker gave them the lead going into the final quarter.
But a late score from Ollie Holiday saw Hartpury edge a closely fought 12-try encounter.
Scrum half Lloyd opened the scoring, just moments after securing a penalty at the breakdown, as he sniped over from close range after an initial burst by Minto.
Hartpury hit back with a powerful driving maul sending back row Harry Short power over. Harry Bazalgette added the extras to level the scores.
The English side were denied a second score when Matty Ward was called back for a forward pass in the build-up.
However, the reprieve was only temporary as the resulting maul forced a penalty try for the visitors. Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths was yellow carded for collapsing the maul.
Dragons hit back as powerfully carrying from Aneurin Owen and midfield partner Joe Westwood pulled men in to allow Rosser to dot down out wide.
Hartpury scored a third – with Dragons still down to 14 men - when centre Robbie Smith intercepted a pass as he flew out of the line as the visitors defending in their own 22 and he had the pace to make the line for a 21-12 lead.
Huw Anderson was an early introduction, and the Wales Under-20 ace produced a peach of a pass out of the tackle with his first touch to send Rosser over for his second of the afternoon.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued as visiting centre Jack Johnson scored under the posts before hooker Ethan Hunt went over for a 35-19 lead.
There was a flurry of changes at the break from the home side with Steve Cummins immediately prominent as the forwards crashed up and then back row Minto burrowed over after a quick tap.
Harry Wilson made his entrance just before the hour mark and more pressure saw Number Eight Owen Conquer mark his appearance with a bulldozing try after a driving maul was stopped short.
A superb turnover from Kobi Rees sparked a footrace from deep that Rosser was just second to before Dane Blacker stretched over to edge Dragons ahead after a strong carry from Steff Hughes.
Hartpury, though, struck late on as Holiday pounced on his own grubber kick ahead.
Timeline:
06m Lloyd t Reed c 7-0
10m Short t Bazalgette c 7-7
14m Penalty t 7-14
17m Rosser t 12-14
24m Smith t Bazalgette c 12-21
29m Rosser t Reed c 19-21
33m Johnson t Bazalgette c 19-28
38m Hunt t Bazalgette c 19-35
45m Minto t Reed c 26-35
59m Conquer t Reed c 33-35
66m Blacker t Reed c 40-35
75m Holiday t c 40-42
Dragons RFC: Jordan Williams (Price 62), Ewan Rosser, Joe Westwood (Wilson 52), Aneurin Owen (Hughes 35), Oli Andrew (Anderson 24), Will Reed (Ford 73), Morgan Lloyd (Blacker 40); Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Reynolds 40), Brodie Coghlan (Burrows 31 (Scarfe 62))), Luke Yendle (Coleman 40), Joe Davies (Thomas 73), George Nott (Cummins 40), George Young, Evan Minto (Rees 56), Owen Conquer
Replacements: Josh Reynolds, Oli Burrows, Sam Scarfe, Chris Coleman, Owain James, Steve Cummins, Nick Thomas, Kobi Rees, Dane Blacker, Harri Ford, Steff Hughes, Harry Wilson, Walker Price, Huw Anderson
Hartpury: Alex Morgan, Matty Ward, Jack Johnson, Robbie Smith, Ollie Holiday, Harry Bazalgette, Mike Austin; Aristot Benz-Salmon, Ethan Hunt, Jon Benz-Salmon, Dale Lemon, Jack Davies (c), Sam Lewis, Harry Short, Jarrard Hayler
Replacements: W Crane, J Gibbons, A Gibson, J Rees, C Cobbett, J Gray, D Gwynne, K McGhie, K Cullen, J Edwards-Giraud, B Denty, A Forrester, M Knight
Referee: Adam Jones
Attendance: 3,081 tickets issued
