Newport Gwent Dragons produced a fine display to claim a deserved bonus point victory over Italian visitors, Benetton Treviso, to keep alive hopes of qualification for next season’s Heineken Cup.
The Dragons led early in the first half thanks to a touchdown from Adam Hughes and were firmly in control by half time thanks to tries from Aled Brew and Ashley Smith.
Treviso scored early in the second half to give them a glimmer of hope but a second score from Brew and a try from Will Harries wrapped up victory for the Men of Gwent.
The Dragons showed much promise in the opening stages of the game and were rewarded with an early try through Adam Hughes. The centre demonstrated great pace to collect his down-field kick and touch the ball down under pressure from the Italian defence. Jason Tovey was unsuccessful with the conversion leaving the score 5-0.
The Dragons continued to press but this went unrewarded as Tovey saw a penalty sail just wide of the post. Soon after the pattern of the game changed as the Dragons were then forced to defend for much of the middle stages of the half as the physical Treviso pack began to dominate.
Fine defensive work meant the visitors were unable to breach the impressive Dragons defence, owing much to the work of Aled Brew. The home side were able to absorb much of this pressure and shut the visitors out.
It was the Dragons who gained the next score through the impressive Aled Brew. The flying winger collected a fine kick through from Ashley Smith to run clear from 20 yards and dive under the posts to score. Tovey slotted the conversion to make the scores 12-0
Moments later the Dragons were further ahead thanks to dynamic number eight, Toby Faletau. The youngster burst through the Treviso defence with a powerful hand off, he charged up- field before sending Ashley Smith under the posts with a superbly timed pass. Tovey again converted making scores 19-0.
Treviso did manage to post their first points of the half thanks to a late Kristopher Burton penalty but the dragons were firmly in control when the referee blew for the end of the half.
The visitors took the early initiative in the second half as they once again tested the home defence. The Dragons allowed Treviso numerous phases inside their 22 and after a period of concerted pressure, fly-half Burton ran in a relatively simple score from five yards out. Burton converted his try making the score 19-10.
Much like in the first half the visitors enjoyed further possession but were unable to add to their points as the Dragons’ defence held firm.
Then, within three minutes the Dragons made the game safe with two tries both created by the boot of Jason Tovey.
The first was scored by Aled Brew as he showed great speed to outpace the Treviso defence to collect Tovey’s grubber kick before touching down and claiming the bonus point in the process. Adam Hughes, having taken over kicking duties, converted.
The second was scored by Will Harries as he gathered a neat chip from Tovey just inside the visitor’s half before showing fantastic pace to beat the Treviso defence and score close to the posts. Hughes again converted making the score 33-10.
Treviso looked for a consolation score but were left frustrated by the Dragons’ defence and as the referee, Peter Fitzgibbon, blew the final whistle the Dragons were left to reflect on a well deserved victory.
Score summary:
Dragons:
Tries: Brew 2, Harries, Hughes, Smith Cons: Tovey 2, Hughes 2
Treviso:
Try: Burton Con: Burton
Penalty: Burton
Dragons: Martyn Thomas; Will Harries, Adam Hughes, Tom Riley, Aled Brew; Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans; Phil Price, Lloyd Burns, Ben Castle, Luke Charteris (c) Adam Jones, Danny Lydiate, Lewis Evans, Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Steve Jones, Hugh Gustafson, Dan Way, Gavin Thomas, Andrew Coombs, Joe Bearman, Jon Evans, Ashley Smith
Treviso: Luke McLean; Michele Sepe, Alberto Sgarbi, Gonzalo Garcia, Andrew Vilk; Kristopher Burton, Fabio Semenzato; Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Antonio Pavanello (c), Corniel Van Zyl, Manoa Vosawai, Benjamin Vermaak, Robert Barbieri.
Replacements: Diego Vidal, Michele Rizzo, Pedro Di Santo, Valerio Bernabò, Gonzalo Padrò, Paul Derbyshire, Simon Picone, Brendan Williams.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
The Dragons led early in the first half thanks to a touchdown from Adam Hughes and were firmly in control by half time thanks to tries from Aled Brew and Ashley Smith.
Treviso scored early in the second half to give them a glimmer of hope but a second score from Brew and a try from Will Harries wrapped up victory for the Men of Gwent.
The Dragons showed much promise in the opening stages of the game and were rewarded with an early try through Adam Hughes. The centre demonstrated great pace to collect his down-field kick and touch the ball down under pressure from the Italian defence. Jason Tovey was unsuccessful with the conversion leaving the score 5-0.
The Dragons continued to press but this went unrewarded as Tovey saw a penalty sail just wide of the post. Soon after the pattern of the game changed as the Dragons were then forced to defend for much of the middle stages of the half as the physical Treviso pack began to dominate.
Fine defensive work meant the visitors were unable to breach the impressive Dragons defence, owing much to the work of Aled Brew. The home side were able to absorb much of this pressure and shut the visitors out.
It was the Dragons who gained the next score through the impressive Aled Brew. The flying winger collected a fine kick through from Ashley Smith to run clear from 20 yards and dive under the posts to score. Tovey slotted the conversion to make the scores 12-0
Moments later the Dragons were further ahead thanks to dynamic number eight, Toby Faletau. The youngster burst through the Treviso defence with a powerful hand off, he charged up- field before sending Ashley Smith under the posts with a superbly timed pass. Tovey again converted making scores 19-0.
Treviso did manage to post their first points of the half thanks to a late Kristopher Burton penalty but the dragons were firmly in control when the referee blew for the end of the half.
The visitors took the early initiative in the second half as they once again tested the home defence. The Dragons allowed Treviso numerous phases inside their 22 and after a period of concerted pressure, fly-half Burton ran in a relatively simple score from five yards out. Burton converted his try making the score 19-10.
Much like in the first half the visitors enjoyed further possession but were unable to add to their points as the Dragons’ defence held firm.
Then, within three minutes the Dragons made the game safe with two tries both created by the boot of Jason Tovey.
The first was scored by Aled Brew as he showed great speed to outpace the Treviso defence to collect Tovey’s grubber kick before touching down and claiming the bonus point in the process. Adam Hughes, having taken over kicking duties, converted.
The second was scored by Will Harries as he gathered a neat chip from Tovey just inside the visitor’s half before showing fantastic pace to beat the Treviso defence and score close to the posts. Hughes again converted making the score 33-10.
Treviso looked for a consolation score but were left frustrated by the Dragons’ defence and as the referee, Peter Fitzgibbon, blew the final whistle the Dragons were left to reflect on a well deserved victory.
Score summary:
Dragons:
Tries: Brew 2, Harries, Hughes, Smith Cons: Tovey 2, Hughes 2
Treviso:
Try: Burton Con: Burton
Penalty: Burton
Dragons: Martyn Thomas; Will Harries, Adam Hughes, Tom Riley, Aled Brew; Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans; Phil Price, Lloyd Burns, Ben Castle, Luke Charteris (c) Adam Jones, Danny Lydiate, Lewis Evans, Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Steve Jones, Hugh Gustafson, Dan Way, Gavin Thomas, Andrew Coombs, Joe Bearman, Jon Evans, Ashley Smith
Treviso: Luke McLean; Michele Sepe, Alberto Sgarbi, Gonzalo Garcia, Andrew Vilk; Kristopher Burton, Fabio Semenzato; Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Lorenzo Cittadini, Antonio Pavanello (c), Corniel Van Zyl, Manoa Vosawai, Benjamin Vermaak, Robert Barbieri.
Replacements: Diego Vidal, Michele Rizzo, Pedro Di Santo, Valerio Bernabò, Gonzalo Padrò, Paul Derbyshire, Simon Picone, Brendan Williams.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
