Dragons end 3-year Munster drought
Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:09
Aled Brew scored a superb opening try to light the touch paper in the Newport Gwent Dragons' first win over Munster since January 2007 - a superb 31-22 triumph at Rodney Parade on Saturday.
Young flyhalf Jason Tovey was once again influential, kicking 16 points in a man-of-the-match performance.
The reigning Magners League champions, Munster, lost the chance to move top of the table as the Dragons deservedly took the verdict, playing themselves back into play-off contention.
Paul Turner's men crossed for tries through Aled Brew, Will Harries and Gavin Thomas.
Munster took the match seriously enough to put out a back division that looked like they meant business.
It included Springbok star centre Jean de Villiers, who is quitting the Irish province at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
And the reason they fielded such a strong line-up, which also included All Black Doug Howlett as well as Irish stars Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer, was that a win would have catapulted them from fourth to above the Ospreys at the head of the league.
While a win would have boost Munster's title intentions, the Dragons needed the victory to keep their heads above the rival Blues and Scarlets for a Heineken Cup qualification spot.
And it was an eventful opening as Munster made a positive start. Howlett went over for a touchdown on the right only for it to be ruled out by the video ref for a knock-on.
Then O'Gara hit the post with a straightforward penalty.
The let-offs allowed the Dragons to ease the pressure and, after gaining some territorial advantage, wing Aled Brew scored a blistering try, racing 40 metres past two defenders before getting the better of fullback Paul Warwick to score.
Flyhalf Jason Tovey converted but the lead did not last long as the home scrum, which had been under pressure, cracked on their line to concede a penalty try that gave O'Gara a simple conversion.
The tide turned, however, when the Welsh region gained significant territory.
The mistakes came from the Irishmen towards half-time, allowing Tovey to boot two penalties and give his side a six-point advantage at the break.
To add further headaches to Irishmen's troubles, centre Lifeimi Mafi was sin-binned for answering back referee Dudley Phillips.
And the Dragons took advantage for wing Will Harries who went over under the posts, only for that to be erased when flanker Tommy O'Donnell was on the end of a passing movement that included hooker Denis Fogarty, O'Gara and Warwick.
Munster's chances of claiming that top spot took a turn for the worse a quick movement across midfield allowed fullback Martyn Thomas to get a third home touchdown.
They may have had the bonus point fourth try when Harries ran 70 metres from his own line but the resultant Tovey penalty in front of the posts sealed the result.
Prop Tony Buckley's consolation converted try for Munster at the end was meaningless.
The scorers:
For Newport Gwent Dragons:
Tries: Brew, Harries, Thomas
Cons: Tovey 2
Pens: Tovey 4
For Munster:
Tries: Penalty try, O'Donnell, Buckley
Cons: O'Gara 2
Pen: O'Gara
Yellow cards: Lifeimi Mafi (Munster, 39), Wayne Evans (Newport, 56)
Teams:
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Will Harries, 13 Matthew Watkins, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Wayne Evans; 8 Lewis Evans, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Danny Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Adam Jones, 3 Ben Castle, 2 Tom Willis (captain), 1 Hugh Gustafson.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Pat Palmer, 18 Rob Sidoli, 19 Hoani Macdonald, 20 Tom Riley, 21 James Arlidge, 22 James
Leadbeater.
Munster: 15 Paul Warwick, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Denis Hurley, 10 Ronan O'Gara (captain), 9 Peter Stringer, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Mick O'Driscoll, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Denis Fogarty, 1 Marcus Horan,
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Julien Brugnaut, 18 Ian Nagle, 19 Nick Williams, 20 Duncan Williams, 21 Scott Deasy, 22 Ciaran O'Boyle.
Referee: Dudley Phillips
Assistant Referees: Phil Fear (WRU), Matthew Thomas (WRU).
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
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