As Dragons seniors prepared for this Sunday’s home game against Glasgow Warriors, there were plenty of Gwent stars on song over the weekend.
With the Wales Under-20s, Newport, Dragons Under-18s, Gwalia Lightning and Wales’ senior side all on show with close scores aplenty, it was a tale of nerves, returns, great scores and oh so close’s for our Gwent players.
Dragon Ford Kicks Under-20s To Win
The action began on Friday evening with Wales U20s travelling to Treviso looking to bounce-back following their defeat in France.
The U20s featured a quartet of Dragons Academy players with number eight Evan Minto and scrum-half Logan Franklin in the starting XV plus flanker Ryan Jones and 10 Harri Ford among the replacements.
Despite seemingly being overwhelmed early doors by Italy’s power-game, Wales’ youngsters grew into the game, overturning an 8-0 first quarter deficit to lead 8-10 only for Italy to score with the last play of the half to lead 15-10 at the interval.
With Minto tackling everything that moved and Franklin helping to add more control from the base, Wales continued to grow into the second half and scored their third try, a second for hooker Harry Thomas from a five-metre driving maul.
Ford then produced a memorable touchline conversion, bisecting the posts to give his side a two-point lead.
Italy regained the lead heading into the final 20 minutes with a penalty but, with 10 minutes remaining Ford held his nerve with a well struck kick of his own, nerves which were tested when Italy were given their own opportunity with the last moment of the game only for the kick to drift wide giving Wales a hard-earned 20-18 away win.
Next up, our young Dragons return home to take on Ireland at Rodney Parade in two weeks' time.
Hewitt Return & Andrew Double
Newport were also in action on Friday night and were bolstered by the return of Dragons wing Ashton Hewitt, his first in Black and Amber since 2016 and his first appearance for anyone since Boxing Day 2023 due to injury.
He lined up alongside Dragons backs coach Matt O’Brien at 10 along with Senior Academy player Oli Andrew, a late call-up to the starting XV.
It proved to be a memorable return to action for Hewitt against Aberavon at the Talbot Athletic Ground as he would cross for one of his side’s six tries, alongside a brace for Andrew.
One of Andrew’s scores was a superb solo effort with the winger breaking through from the back of a lineout before stepping his way past the cover to score.
The 32-36 win at Aberavon sees Newport solidify their place in fourth, now comfortably clear of Bridgend in fifth as they look to put in a similar end-of-season run of form to last year and catch the likes of Cardiff, Llandovery and Ebbw Vale at the top of the table.
Gwalia Go Close
Despite their good form this season, few had expected Gwalia Lightning to come away from Irish side Wolfhounds with a win in their top of the table clash on Sunday.
Both sides had only lost one game each this season before the match with a point separating the sides in the table.
After the home side took the lead, Wales fullback Jenny Hesketh scored in the corner to give Gwalia an 8-7 lead only for the Wolfhounds to reply through a try from hooker Maebh Clenaghan and lead 14-8 at half-time.
Katie Corrigan scored the hosts’ third after continuous Wolfhounds pressure but prop Maisie Davies’ score with 10 minutes on the clock gave Gwalia hopes of a memorable victory.
However, second rower Alaw Pyrs was held up over the line, unable to replicate her heroics from a couple of weeks ago, with the Wolfhounds holding on for a 21-15 win.
Cole Double Downs Cardiff
In an entertaining all-East meeting Dragons Under-18s took home the spoils from the Cardiff Arms Park in a win which saw them leapfrog their East rivals in the final RAG championships group stage standings.
With a place in the end-of-season playoffs already secured, having lost to Ospreys and Scarlets either side of a win at RGC, Dragons knew a win at Cardiff could see them finish third and avoid a tough trip to Scarlets in the semi-finals.
Tries from hooker Chester Creel, full back Harry Dawes, centre Ryley Fussell along with a double from wing Rhys Cole and two conversions from the boot of Will Ford, younger brother of Harri, helped Dragons to a 26-29 win.
Next up for them will be a match against Ospreys in the play-off semi-final as they look for revenge following opening day defeat at home to the same opposition.
Wainwright Scores As Italy Topple Wales
The headline act of the weekend saw Italy defeat Wales in Rome in another one-score game.
With Josh Adams going close twice early on, Italy took the lead and extended it through a try from Ange Capuozzo and the boot of Tomasso Allan to lead 16-3 at the break.
However, the introduction of Dragons trio Aaron Wainwright, Elliot Dee and Rhodri Williams were part of a second half fight back from the visitors with Wainwright crossing from close range along with a penalty try from a driving maul dragging Wales back to within a score.
Wainwright had been a doubt for the game following a facial injury suffered in the fifth minute against France the week before but carried superbly off the bench after coming on just before the final quarter and thoroughly deserved his try.
Italy in the end held on for a 22-15 win which despite Wales’ losing bonus point leaves them bottom of the Six Nations table with a home match against Ireland to come in two weeks’ time.
