Brive ends Newport Gwent Dragons' Challenge Cup hopes with 36-19 win

Brive 36-19 Dragons, Stade Amedee-Domenech
Scorecard

Newport Gwent Dragons crashed out of the European Challenge Cup after they suffered a 36-19 defeat against table toppers Brive at Stade Amedee-Domenech on Saturday.

Soso Bekoshvili starred for the French with a double try as Brive built on their momentum from the first half where they had an eight point lead.

It took Bekoshvili just four minutes to get Brive off the mark when he rumbled past the post and nine minutes later wing Taku Ngwenya followed the suit while fullback Gaetan Germain contributed with a penalty and a conversion as the Top 14 side raced to a 15-point lead.

Scrum-half Tavis Knoyle provided some respite for Dragons with his 19th minute try and fly-half Angus O'Brien added the extras. However, their efforts were negated when prop Damien Lavergne crossed over in the 33rd minute.

An injury to Knoyle saw Sarel Pretorius taking charge and he immediately created an impact with a try in the 38th minute after Brive centre Romain Cabannes was sin-binned. Despite Pretorius' heroics, it was Brive, who dominated the first half with a 22-14 lead.

Pretorius helped Dragons reduce the gap to just three points when he strolled past the post for the second time in the game in the 47th minute but the conversion was missed on this occasion.

Just when the game was evenly poised, Bekoshvili's second try in the 64th minute followed by replacement Patrick Toetu touch down in the 70th minute ensured Brive completed a convincing 17-point victory. Germain also contributed with 11 points.