Austin brace but defeat in Euro opener
Young hooker Wills Austin grabbed a try brace but Dragons suffered defeat in the south of France as USA Perpignan secured a 41-17 victory in Round One of the new EPCR Challenge Cup season.
First half tries from James Hall and Mahamadou Diaby at Stade Aime Giral had given the hosts a commanding 17-point lead – despite suffering a 20-minute red card.
Six-try Perpignan duly sealed maximum points on the opening weekend despite Filo Tiatia’s men hitting back through Joe Westwood and a double from on-loan hooker Austin.
Dragons now return home to Rodney Parade next weekend to face Lyon aiming to get their European season off and running.
The Men of Gwent made eight changes to the side narrowly defeated by league champions Leinster with internationals Rio Dyer, Ben Carter and Fine Inisi among those returning.
With front row numbers depleted, up and coming hooker Sam Scarfe made his first start for the club while prop Luke Yendle also returned up front.
The young duo were involved as Dragons won an early scrum penalty that O’Brien kicked to the corner. The lineout was duly secured but Scarfe was shunted into touch as he peeled off.
Another penalty for holding on against the hosts gave Dragons an attacking platform, but a failed tap penalty from five metres stopped the momentum as a golden early opportunity was lost.
Perpignan made Dragons pay on 12 minutes when scrum half Hall finished off a long range move, that started after a break from wing Tavite Veredamu. Gabin Kretchmann converted.
A reckless high shot on Scarfe saw Duncan Paia’aua issues a 20 minute red card, while the visiting hooker was forced off and replaced by Will Austin.
Ewan Rosser also replaced Cai Evans on the quarter mark while Dyer denied Jordan Petaia with a tackle into touch as the full back looked to offload for a second score.
Home fly half Kretchmann missed a kick to extend the home lead, as he pushed a penalty wide right. However, just three minutes later the home side struck again with flanker Mahamadou Diaby finishing off sustained pressure. Kretchmann converted.
The Men of Gwent looked to respond with Rodrigo Martinez busting the line after a Ben Carter tip pass and Rhodri Williams peeling into space before being dragged down short.
David Richards then broke the line from deep with a neat inside step, but his grubber kick ahead just failed to find the jet-heeled Dyer.
One final burst before the interval saw Mackenzie Martin carry strongly but the following phase went loose and the chance lost.
Perpignan made Dragons pay heavily in first half injury time as Kretchmann nudged over three for a 17-0 lead.
Harri Keddie made a welcome return just after the break while Robert Hunt was also introduced to add pack power.
Dragons, though, were hit with a sucker punch on 50 minutes as Ewan Rosser and O’Brien went close, but when the ball went loose it was picked up by Jefferson-Lee Jospeh who ran in unopposed from deep.
Tiatia’s men hit back as Austin found Westwood with a delightfully delayed pass from a lineout move and the centre went over under pressure. O’Brien cut the lead to 22-7.
Perpigan grabbed a try bonus just before the hour when lock Bastien Chinarro crashed over from a lineout.
A quick tap and go from a penalty from Hope saw the scrum half go close, but his final pass failed to find Ewan Rosser. Seconds later, though, a poor Perpignan lineout went long and Austin reacted quickest to blast over from five metres out for a second score.
Carter was yellow carded for collapsing a driving maul close to his own line and a penalty try was awarded.
Perpignan grabbed a sixth as Jefferson-Lee Jospeh broke from deep and lock Matteo le Corvec stode over to wrap up the victory.
The final word went to Dragons as Austin went over from a driving maul, but the visitors would ultimately leave empty-handed.
Timeline:
12m Hall t Kretchmann c 7-0
28m Diaby t Kretchmann c 14-0
40m Kretchmann p 17-0
50m Joseph t 22-0
55m Westwood t O’Brien t 22-7
59m Chinarro t 27-7
64m Austin t 27-12
70m Penalty t 34-12
76m Corvec t Poulet c 41-12
80m Austin t 41-17
USA Perpignan: Jordan Petaia, Tavite Veredamu, Freddy Duguivalu, Duncan Paia'aua, Jefferson Joseph, Gabin Kretchmann, James Hall, Giorgi Tetrashvili, Sama Malolo, Nemo Roelofse, Matteo le Corvec, Bastien Chinarro, Mahamadou Diaby, Jamie Ritchie, Andro Dvali
Replacements: Victor Montgaillard, Bruce Devaux, Akato Fakatika, Davit Lagvilava, Jaco van Tonder, Gela Aprasidze, Job Poulet, Mayron Fahy
Dragons RFC: Cai Evans (E. Rosser 18), Fine Inisi (de Beer 60), Dai Richards, Joe Westwood, Rio Dyer, Angus O'Brien, Rhodri Williams (Hope 54), Rodrigo Martinez (Kelleher-Griffiths 52), Sam Scarfe (Austin 15), Luke Yendle (Hunt 46), Matthew Screech (Langton-Cryer 60), Ben Carter, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Thomas Young, Mackenzie Martin (Keddie 46)
Replacements: Will Austin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Rob Hunt, Barny Langton-Cryer, Harrison Keddie, Che Hope, Tinus de Beer, Ewan Rosser
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Ita)
Attendance: 6,215
