The Dragons did the damage in the first half as Bernard Jackman got one over on his former side, dishing out a 21-8 GUINNESS PRO14 defeat to Connacht at Rodney Parade tonight.
The Welsh side had suffered defeats to Edinburgh and Leinster in their first two matches in the new-look league but bounced back to deservedly take victory under the floodlights in Newport.
Connacht, who were coming off a 32-10 triumph over the Southern Kings in round 2, had won eight of the last nine games between the sides yet were caught cold by an imperious first half Dragons display.
Hallam Amos finished off an incredible team try in the opening moments and Elliot Dee also got driven over as they racked up a 21-3 advantage by half-time.
Quinn Roux’s unconverted score early in the second period could have sparked a comeback but the Dragons defence remained solid as head coach Bernard Jackman enjoyed a victory against the team he began his professional playing career with.
Giving his reaction afterwards, Jackman’s Connacht counterpart Kieran Keane said: “We simply left ourselves with too much to do in the second half, going in 21 points to 3 at the break was always going to be difficult. But I was proud of how my players responded in the second half.
“They showed real heart and threw everything at them. But credit to the Dragons, their defence stood strong. We have to learn from this, though. We’re at home to Cardiff next Saturday and we have to pick ourselves up and work hard during the week to get a win next weekend.”
The Dragons won this fixture 21-16 last season and the lightning start they made at Rodney Parade suggested they fancied repeating the trick. With just two minutes on the clock, a spectacular, free-flowing team move that began in their own half and included four offloads – including an incredible release by falling hooker Dee – was finished in the corner by Amos, although Gavin Henson failed to add the extras.
Jack Carty soon narrowed the deficit to 5-3 with a penalty right in front of the posts and after the fast-breaking Darragh Leader was called back for a forward pass, the hosts demonstrated their attacking intent by booting a kickable 19th-minute penalty into the corner.
The resulting lineout, ten metres from the line, was duly won and a dominant driving maul resulted in Dee being shoved over and dotting down. This time Henson made no mistake with the conversion. Rather than sit back on their 12-3 advantage, the Welsh side continued to press.
Prop Brok Harris made a searing break that belied his 18-and-a-half stone frame and Henson slotted a pair of three-pointers just before the half hour mark, the latter coming after Connacht lock James Cannon was sin-binned following a penalty 10 metres from the visitors’ line.
Henson, the 33-times capped Wales international, then converted a scrum penalty on the stroke of half-time to complete a sterling first period for the hosts. Connacht improved early on the resumption and they finally turned territory into points on 53 minutes as a well-taken lineout was driven forward, before Roux broke free to get over.
The try went unconverted but Keane’s troops were soon on the attack again, Bundee Aki slicing through the home defence and Carty booting a penalty towards the corner, although Jackman’s charges held firm. Indeed, they almost scored on the counter but Sarel Pretorius’ kick ahead rolled agonisingly into touch.
Connacht set up camp deep in the hosts’ half during the final quarter but their progress was halted by debutant winger Rory Scholes having a foot in touch as he attacked out wide, while a knock-on from a lineout saw them cough up possession. Scholes was then dragged into touch in the 69th minute as he attempted to crash over for an elusive try.
As they looked for a route back into the game, another turnover proved costly for the westerners and a clearance kick from try scorer Amos, at the death, completed a job well done for the determined Dragons.
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