Dragons earns share of spoils

Mar 1 2008 by Staff Reporter, Western Mail

THE Dragons had to settle for a share of the spoils in their Magners League game as Edinburgh held on in dreadful conditions at Rodney Parade.

A gale-force wind and driving rain made life uncomfortable for both sides in the early stages, although, with the elements in their favour, it was Edinburgh who made the early inroads.

They would have taken the lead in the second minute had Roland Reid not knocked on with the line at his mercy and only Kevin Morgan to pass.

To their immense credit, the Dragons were resolute in defence and committed to each and every attack that came their way.

Admittedly, possession was hard to come by as Edinburgh drove forward with purpose and care, but when they did find the ball in their hands they played the touchlines with great accuracy.

But, having made two dozen tackles inside the opening eight minutes, the Dragons found themselves behind when centre and captain Ben Cairns waltzed around three would-be tackles to score at the posts.

Godman’s conversion put the visitors seven points to the good and with the wind speed increasing, it was as much as the hosts could do to stay outside their own 22. Even when they did enjoy a rare journey into the Edinburgh half, turnover ball and a subsequent kick downfield from Godman, saw the Dragons pinned back in their own half once more.

A Godman penalty on 12 minutes increased Edinburgh’s lead and after Ceri Sweeney had dragged a penalty wide from in front – the wind playing havoc once more – the game switched back into the Dragons half where the region found themselves defending for their lives once again.

Careless hands, this time from Andrew Turnbull, allowed the Dragons off the hook after 22 minutes, but two minutes later they were hit by a further setback when outside-half Sweeney was forced off with a back injury.

Further wasted opportunities from Turnbull and then Matt Mutschin gave the Dragons greater belief that if they held on to the interval, they would be in with a chance of redressing the balance.

In fact it was better than that. With eight minutes of the half remaining and having put Edinburgh under pressure on their own line, Ashley Smith pushed a perfect kick behind Turnbull and left wing Richard Fussell followed up to score a try which replacement Aled Thomas converted.

Godman followed Sweeney’s lead by pulling his penalty wide in stoppage time and, with the Dragons using the wind to their advantage at the beginning of the second period, it came as no great surprise when they levelled courtesy of a Thomas penalty.

Just as Godman had dominated the first half with his excellent touchfinders, so Thomas dictated for much of the second. It was just a pity that Steve Jones’ line-out delivery was affected so badly by the wind.

The appalling conditions made the final 20 minutes a lottery, but giving credit where credit is due, neither side let up in their pursuit of the victory points.

Sadly, time ran out for the Dragons and further careless mistakes cost them the chance of finishing up with another four points to their name.