Dragons too good for hapless Kings
The Dragons had wrapped up the bonus point soon after the half-time break, as they took a 29-6 lead.
The Kings managed a solitary second-half try, but they were never in the contest after the Dragons took a 12-6 lead just on the half-hour mark.
The Kings are still looking for their maiden Pro14 win after they were overpowered by the Dragons.
The hosts used the driving maul to devastating effect as they went over four times in a bruising performance.
Braces from Elliott Dee and Hallam Amos either side of half time secured the win for Bernard Jackman's side with Anidisa Ntsila going over for the visitors in their only try of the night.
The result will give the Dragons a welcome boost and a second victory as they look to climb the Conference B table.
Southern Kings opened the scoring after just three minutes through a Pieter-Steyn de Wet penalty but their slender lead would last less than two minutes as Hallam Amos went over the line.
Straight from Gavin Henson’s kick off, the Dragons drove forward as Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan linked up well to send Amos over the line.
In treacherous conditions, the Dragons continued to dominate proceedings and after a Henson penalty, two tries in four minutes put the game beyond the South Africans.
The Kings are penalised for blocking Ashton Hewitt allowing the hosts to kick to the corner before setting up a driving maul as Dee crashed over.
And just minutes the later Sarel Pretorious was able to find Amos in space and the winger managed to barge his way over the line.
There was no let up for the Kings as the Dragons continued to assert their dominance and went over three minutes into the second half.
The Dragons continued to use the driving maul to their advantage and after a fine break from Carl Meyer, the maul powered its way towards the line and Dee went over again.
The Kings were keen to haul themselves back into the contest and it was their turn to use the driving maul as Ntsila drove his way over the whitewash.
But scores were few and far between for the South Africans, who have lost every match so far this season.
Dragons were unable improve their healthy lead but a comfortable victory for the hosts will be music to the ears of Bernard Jackman after their heavy defeat at the hands of Ulster last week
The scorers:
For Newport Gwent Dragons:
Tries: Amos, Dee, Amos, Dee
Cons: Henson 3
Pen: Henson
For the Southern Kings:
Try: Ntsila
Con: De Wet
Pens: De Wet 2
Yellow card: Leon Brown (Newport Gwent Dragons, 68 – foul play, no arms in tackle)
Teams:
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Ashton Hewitt, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Gavin Henson, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 James Benjamin, 7 Ollie Griffiths, 6 James Thomas, 5 Cory Hill (captain), 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Leon Brown, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Juan Harris.
Replacements: 16 Ellis Shipp, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Joe Davies, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Angus O'Brien, 23 Thretton Palamo.
Southern Kings: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Berton Klaasen, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Martin Dreyer, 2 Michael Willemse (captain), 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Etienne Swanepoel, 19 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Rowan Gouws, 22 Oliver Zono, 23 Luzuko Vulindlu.
Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Gareth John (Wales)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)
