Dragons full-back Jason Tovey almost singlehandedly saw off the challenge of Ulster as he scored 23 points – three tries, a conversion and two penalties – to power the Welsh side to a Magners League comeback win at Rodney Parade on Sunday.
Jason Tovey scored 15 points in the last nine minutes of this end-to-end tussle with Ulster to give the Dragons a deserved win – their first at Rodney Parade since mid-December.
The talented Wales Under-20 international entered the Dragons’ record books as he became the first player to score a hat-trick of tries in a competitive game for the region.
Knock ons, misplaced passes and unforced errors blighted both sides’ play at times but Paul Turner’s men showed more composure when it mattered most.
Clinton Schifcofske’s 60th-minute penalty may have put Ulster 16-8 ahead but the Dragons had the better of the final quarter and Tovey’s late intercept try topped off a marvellous fightback.
The win has moved the Dragons up to seventh in the league standings, leapfrogging both Cardiff and an Ulster side that played well below par.
The visitors had to make a late change before kick-off when Ryan Caldwell cried off with a stomach complaint and Italian international Carlo Del Fava was called into the second row.
Ulster got off to a poor start when recent Ireland debutant Tom Court was sin-binned, four minutes in, for deliberately blocking Dragons scrum half Wayne Evans as he chased a kick.
The Welsh side’s opening try followed just two minutes later. Ashley Smith and the in-form Richard Fussell both took the ball on before a couple of missed tackles exposed Ulster out wide and full-back Tovey was up in support to glide over at the corner.
Shaun Connor sent his conversion attempt to the right and wide and Court’s absence did not do too much damage to Ulster, who closed the gap to 5-3 with a close range penalty from Ian Humphreys.
The Ulster number 10 missed his second shot at the posts, from further out, before a comedy of errors in the hosts’ defence led to Ulster’s one and only try.
Centres Paul Steinmetz and Darren Cave helped tightened up Ulster’s defence, proving some much-needed stability.
Matt Williams’ men then launched a kick chase on 22 minutes which saw Dragons flanker Joe Bearman blunder and the bobbling ball was scooped up by Scotland winger Simon Danielli who cantered over behind the posts.
Humphreys converted and was off target from a penalty, three minutes before half-time, as Ulster turned around with a 10-5 advantage.
Backed by the wind for the second half, the Dragons made good headaway with Fussell again threatening and their forwards working hard.
Connor and Tovey missed a penalty attempt apiece before Connor found his range from 45 metres out to reduce the arrears.
The majority of the 6,112-strong crowd were growing impatient though as the Dragons struggled to build through the phases and there were audible groans when home prop Rhys Thomas was yellow carded for a late tackle on Ulster full-back Schifcofske.
Taking over the place-kicking duties, Australian Schifcofske landed two penalty goals in the space of five minutes to extend Ulster’s lead to 16-8.
With their back row of Kieron Dawson, David Pollock and Chris Henry combining well, Ulster looked poised to build further momentum in the final quarter.
But the men in white coughed up far too much turnover ball and Tovey soon turned on the style to take the game away from the visitors’ grasp.
With Kevin Morgan coming on to make his return from injury, the 19-year-old Tovey landed a 25-metre penalty to increase the pressure on the leaders.
Referee Peter Allan then sent Ulster openside Pollock to the sin-bin for hands in the ruck and the Dragons turned the screw.
Tovey, now operating in the number 10 role, followed up on a sustained bout of Dragons pressure to level the game with an unconverted try.
Ulster were crumbling and although Williams’ side had chances to steady themselves from ruck situations, the Dragons forwards fought hard to pin them back and force errors.
Tovey kicked the hosts in front from a penalty and he intercepted a pass from Andrew Trimble and blazed over for his third try, with a minute left on the clock.
The teenager added the conversion and Ulster, who have now won only one of their last ten games against Welsh opposition, were out for the count.
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