Turner’s men save themselves from record defeat

Oct 7 2007 by Our Correspondent, Wales On Sunday

THE Dragons bounced back from defeat to Munster with a convincing 31-11 win against fellow Irish outfit Ulster at Rodney Parade.

Tries by wing Gareth Wyatt, centre Rhodri Gomer Davies and lock Luke Charteris led Paul Turner’s men back to winning ways in the Magners League and saved them from setting a new record of four successive home defeats.

The Dragons were always in control and dominated both possession and field territory to beat the Irishmen for the first time in five attempts.

Dragons coach Turner welcomed back Wales World Cup squad members Kevin Morgan, Ceri Sweeney and Michael Owen after their pool stage humiliation to Fiji in Nantes.

But newly-appointed captain Colin Charvis missed the clash with a niggling injury.

Turner installed Morgan as skipper and made four changes, with centre Gareth Maule and a new half back combination of Sweeney and scrum half Wayne Evans coming in.

Sweeney and Morgan began the match with a point to prove, eager to impress caretaker coach Nigel Davies ahead of his selection for the international against South Africa next month.

But it was Dragons lock Luke Charteris who set the tone by winning the first line-out of the match and, in the ensuing phase of play, Ulster were caught offside.

The Dragons capitalised and took the lead after four minutes when Sweeney slotted over the resulting penalty from in front of the posts.

And just two minutes later, the hosts scored their first try when a slick move involving Evans, Sweeney and Gomer Davies found Morgan. His feed allowed Gareth Wyatt to race into the right corner, beating the despairing dive of Tommy Bowe.

Ulster hit back through Niall O’Connor’s penalty on 17 minutes but the Dragons maintained their early pressure, Sweeney showing his craft and invention with a delightful chip through the Irish defence.

Fortunately for the visitors, wing Mark McCrea was on hand to sweep up.

The Dragons continued to attack from deep, although it nearly cost them dear on the half hour when Sweeney’s pass was intercepted by Bowe.

The Irish international off-loaded to Cave and the young centre looked set to score under the posts, only for No 8 Joe Bearman’s last-ditch ankle tap to save the day.

Ulster were reduced to 14 men after 32 minutes when flanker Matt McCullough was yellow-carded for coming in at the side. Sweeney added the penalty.

The Dragons should have capitalised further with the man advantage and looked to be turning the screw on the Ulster defence before Evans spilt the ball with the try line at his mercy.

Coach Turner would have been highly satisfied with his side’s first half performance, which finished on a perfect note when referee Clancy gave Sweeney another opportunity to extend the lead with a penalty.

The Dragons fly-half made no mistake and his cool strike from the left touchline allowed the hosts an 11-point advantage at the break.

O’Connor scored an early second half penalty for Ulster, reducing the deficit to eight points.

But the Irishmen’s ill-discipline diminished their chances of a fightback when they lost a man for the second time with David Pollock’s sin-binning after 54 minutes.

The Dragons looked to have tied up the loose ends when a deflected Marshall stab kick fell to Dragons hooker Steve Jones, whose pass allowed Gomer Davies to score.

Ulster replacement Tom Court immediately replied with a try but it was too little too late, Charteris sealing the victory with a try in the final minute.

Dragons: Try – Wyatt, Gomer Davies, Charteris; Con – Sweeney (2); Pen – Sweeney (4).

Ulster: Try – Court; Pen – O’Connor (2).