Dragons RFC wrapped up pre-season with a 26-3 defeat to English Premiership runners-up Bath Rugby at The Recreation Ground.
On the eve of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season, Dai Flanagan’s men made another trip over the bridge to finalise preparations for the big kick-off.
The Men of Gwent welcomed back several Welsh internationals for the friendly fixture – including prop Leon Brown - plus new signing Shame Lewis-Hughes who came into the starting line-up in the West Country.
An impressive first half display saw Lloyd Evans open the scoring before Will Muir’s effort out wide gave Bath a slender 5-3 lead at the break.
Bath pulled clear in the final 20 minutes as Dragons unloaded the bench with Ted Hill, Niall Annett and Guy Pepper scoring.
A fast start from the visitors saw captain Ben Carter win back possession and then, after the visitors put ball to the corner, they claimed another penalty in front of the posts that Evans popped over for the lead.
Dragons enjoyed early territory as Ewan Rosser and Cai Evans ran from deep while Screech, Harri Keddie and Lewis-Hughes were busy in the close quarters.
Slick handling from Aneurin Owen and Rhodri Williams in midfield released speedster Dyer into space but his pass to Jared Rosser just failed to find the hands of the centre.
Two quickfire penalties at scrum time gave Bath field position, with prop Will Stuart shunted into touch by Williams and Keddie as he powered towards to the corner.
Great maul defence held Bath out but wave after wave of attack eventually told as Muir dotted down out wide, despite replays showing his foot was in touch.
Huw Anderson replaced Evans early on and he had to be alert after a cross field kick to Muir before dealing with a marauding Ted Hill on the overlap.
Owen showed the power in his game as he pushed off Russell in the middle of the park to spark an attack from deep.
More impressive maul defence saw Dragons repel a five-metre lineout as they drove it back and then wrapped up the ball to stop the home side before the interval.
Dragons started to unload the bench at the break but continued to force mistakes from Bath who kept their star-studded line-up on the field.
Strong carrying from Rosser, Woodman and Yendle saw Dragons look to mount a charge, but a penalty for holding on saw Ben Spencer go from deep and Reed have to mop up the danger.
Nott stole lineout ball and as Bath pressure mounted, as the home side introduced replacements and fresh legs, it was more superb rear-guard defence that held them up.
Bath finally grabbed a second as they picked a hole in the visiting defence and back row Ted Hill found himself in space to speed over. Russell added the extras.
As Dragons continued to unload the bench, the home pack rumbled over with Niall Annett and Guy Pepper scoring from driving lineouts.
A late charge saw Rees-Weldon held up after a brilliant cross field kick from Reed picked him out on the far wing.
Timeline:
03m Evans p 0-3
16m Muir t 5-3
58m Hill t Russell c 12-3
64m Annett t Harris c 19-3
72m Pepper t Harris c 26-3
Bath Rugby: Tom de Glanville, Joe Cokanasiga, Ollie Lawrence, Orlando Bailey, Will Muir, Finn Russell, Ben Spencer; Arthur Cordwell, Tom Dunn, Will Stuart, Quinn Roux, Charlie Ewels, Ted Hill, Miles Reid, Alfie Barbeary
Replacements: Niall Annett, Josh Bayliss, Will Butt, Tom Carr-Smith, Jacques du Plessis, Austin Emens, Hame Faiva, Archie Griffin, Sam Harris, Louie Hennessey, Ruaridh McConnochie, Ross Molony, Tyler Offiah, Guy Pepper, Ewan Richards, Louis Schreuder, Billy Sela, Ethan Staddon, Francois van Wyk
Dragons RFC: Cai Evans (Anderson 17), Rio Dyer (Hughes 50), Jared Rosser (Rees-Weldon 59), Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser, Lloyd Evans (Reed 39), Rhodri Williams (Blacker 50); Rodrigo Martinez (Jones 38), Brodie Coghlan (Benjamin 46), Leon Brown (Yendle 40), Matthew Screech (Nott 40), Ben Carter (Thomas 56), Ryan Woodman (Minto 73), Harri Keddie (Young 40), Shane Lewis-Hughes
Replacements: Rhodri Jones, James Benjamin, Oli Burrows, Luke Yendle, Nick Thomas, George Nott, Evan Minto, George Young, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Steff Hughes, Huw Anderson, Harry Rees-Weldon
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
