Wing Rhys Cole grabbed a try brace as Dragons opened pre-season with a convincing seven-try 45-12 victory over Hartpury University at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium.
The new-look Men of Gwent travelled to Gloucestershire with a 31-man squad eager to give players minutes and opportunity ahead of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season.
Nine new Dragons in total took to the field against The Champ outfit as the teams squared off for the second successive season in a friendly.
First half tries from David Richards, Rhys Cole and captain Harri Keddie secured a 19-7 lead.
The momentum continued in the second period as Cole, Niall Armstrong, Matthew Screech and Aneurin Owen all crossed the whitewash in an encouraging show from Filo Tiatia’s men.
In blustery conditions, a break from the elusive Huw Anderson saw him beat two men and opened up space for Jac Lloyd to feed Davis Richards who cut back inside and score the opener. Lloyd added the extras.
Hartpury replied with a tap and go from close range finished off by Tom Worts and converted by Harry Bazalgette.
Keddie was held up, after a big carry from Levi Douglas, while Morgan Lloyd also wriggled free after scooping up loose ball.
Young Academy wing Cole cut a beautiful line to ghost past men down the middle of the field and, after a series of forward drives, the ball went wide right for the wing to finish what he started.
A powerful driving maul before the break forced back the home side and Morgan Lloyd rolled out of tackles to feed captain Keddie who bulldozed over. Jac Lloyd added the extras.
Eight changes at the break did nothing to stop visiting confidence growing as Thomas Young crash into contact and offloaded to Jac Lloyd who in turn fed Ackerman and Armstrong to finish the slick move.
Dragons were starting to go through the gears as Cole finished off more good handling and power in the backs from Joe Westwood, with Lloyd adding the extras.
Hartpury stemmed the flow of points with a try out wide from Ceri Clark before the visiting forwards replied with Screech crashing over from close range.
The visitors had the final word, Mackenzie Martin produced a glorious line to break into space and feed Owen for try seven.
Timeline:
06m Richards t J. Lloyd c 0-7
10m Worts t Bazalgette c 7-7
26m Cole t 7-12
36m Keddie t J. Lloyd c 7-19
42m Armstrong t 7-24
45m Cole t J. Lloyd c 7-31
54m Clark 12-31
61m Screech t de Beer c 12-38
66m Owen t de Beer c 12-45
Hartpury: Alex Morgan, B Denty, Robbie Smith, Allsopp, Ollie Holiday, Harry Bazalgette, Wilson; Mellowes, Will Crane, Alex Gibson, Cameron Cobbett, Jack Davies, Paramore, Harry Short, Tom Worts
Replacements: Ethan Hunt, R Davies, Perry, Ford, Owen, Stevens, Josh Gray, Ellis Hart, Murray, Alford, Geely, Lewis, Clark, Smith
Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson (O’Brien 60), Rhys Cole (Dyer 60), David Richards (Westwood 40), Harri Ackerman (Owen 50), Ewan Rosser, Jac Lloyd (De Beer 50), Morgan Lloyd (Armstrong 40 (Hope 67)); Rhodri Jones (Morris 40 (Tuckley 70)), James Benjamin (Burrows 40), Dillon Lewis (Hunt 40), Levi Douglas (Langton-Cryer 40), Steve Cummins (Screech 40), Ryan Woodman (Lewis-Hughes 40), Harrison Keddie (Young 40 (Woodman 56)), Owen Conquer (Martin 50)
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Jordan Morris, George Tuckley, Rob Hunt, Barny Langton-Cryer, Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Thomas Young, Mackenzie Martin, Niall Armstrong, Che Hope, Tinus de Beer, Rio Dyer, Aneurin Owen, Joe Westwood, Angus O’Brien Ceri Clark.
Referee: Jonathan Cook
