Jared Rosser moved joint second in the club’s all-time try scoring records as Dragons opened the new ECPR Challenge Cup season with a gritty 29-14 victory over Perpignan at Rodney Parade.
Rosser crossed the whitewash after five minutes against the Top 14 side to move to 37 tries for the Men of Gwent – putting him level with Ashton Hewitt and six behind leader Aled Brew.
Despite Rosser’s score, Filo Tiatia’s men from themselves behind at the break on home soil.
But a second half surge and tries from player-of-the-match Aneurin Owen, Anzelo Tuitavuki – his third in three home games – and Fetuli Paea wrapped up four points.
Boss Tiatia made seven changes from the side defeated by Ospreys as Rosser, Fine Inisi and Jac Lloyd came into the backs and Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Owain James and Barny Langton-Cryer into the pack.
Dragons were led into action by star wing Rio Dyer on his 100th appearance for his home club.
The home started like a train with Dyer centre stage as he blasted down the right flank and the ball was carried on by Langton-Cryer and Coghlan before slick hands sent Rosser over on his return to the team.
After a huge scrum penalty, Dragons though they had a second score, after Owen’s flat pass sent Lewis-Hughes down the left, but he was just bundled into touch before the second pass sent Langton-Cryer over.
Perpignan looked to grow into the game with big ball carriers in midfield, but pressure from the hosts forced a knock on to wild celebrations from the terrace.
French power and sustained pressure looked set to tell only for Jac Lloyd and Che Hope to combine to produce a superb try saving tackle as they held Tristan Tedder as he went for the line.
Tiatia’s men were being pinned back by the Top 14 visitors, and the growing tide of pressure appeared to result in Luke McGrath scoring, with Beddall being yellow carded.
However, in stepped the TMO to overrule the score allowing Beddall to return to the field of play. It was only a temporary reprieve, though, as back row Jule Coulon went over from the next set of phases and Tedder converted for the lead at the break.
Dragons switched the entire front row at half-time to try and wrestle back some ascendancy and an early break from Tinus de Beer sparked an attack, but Perpignan turned over ball in midfield.
A penalty for offside gave the home side a platform and after patient build-up a pass from Owen found Lloyd on the arc and he broke clear to go under the posts.
But again, the TMO stepped in to halt celebrations and this time the try was chalked off for a block in the build-up to the dismay of the home fans.
A series of lineouts forced Perpignan back before a ball into midfield found Owen and he brushed off one tackler to score under the sticks. De Beer added the extras.
Perpignan turned to the heavy artillery to mount a response, and it was Posolo Tuilagi who eventually made no mistake from close range after the visiting forwards went to work.
A penalty from the restart, after fine work from Dyer on the kick chase, gave De Beer a chance to nudge the home side back ahead and he duly took it.
Suddenly the ascendancy was with Dragons and slick handling and power resulting in Lewis-Hughes going close before replacement Tuitavuki bashed his way over for a third.
Perpignan looked to mount a late charge, but a huge defensive shift kept them at bay before a penalty for an illegal clear out relieved pressure.
And it was left to Paea to grab a fourth after a slicing break from Dyer, Williams and Tuitavuki down left eventually saw the powerful centre cross.
Timeline: 05m Rosser t 5-0
28m Coulon t Tedder c 5-7
56m Owen t De Beer c 12-7
62m Tuilagi t Tedder c 12-14
65m De Beer p 15-14
68m Tuitavuki t De Beer c 22-14
77m Paea t De Beer c 29-14
Dragons: Tinus de Beer, Rio Dyer, Fine Inisi (Paea 61), Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Jac Lloyd (Tuitavuki 56), Che Hope (Williams 61); Rhodri Jones (Jones 40-52 (James 72)), Brodie Coghlan (Dee 40), Owain James (Lewis 40), Barny Langton-Cryer (Screech 56), Ben Carter, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harry Beddall, Harrison Keddie (Minto 72)
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Evan Minto, Rhodri Williams, Fetuli Paea, Anzelo Tuitavuki
USAP: Tristan Tedder, Seta Toganiyadrava, Sevu Reece, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Maxim Granell, Jake McIntyre, Luke McGrath, Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo, Sama Malolo, Marco Riccioni, Bastien Chinarro, Mathieu Tanguy, Jaco van Tonder, Jules Coulon, Andro Dvali
Replacements: Mathys Lotrian, Giorgi Tetrashvili, Brad Amituanai, Lucas Velarte, Simon Taty, Posolo Tuilagi, Antoine Aucagne, Diego Mascarenc Referee:
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (SA)
Attendance: 4,636
