Dragons secure bonus-point win over Newcastle

Dragons 35-12 Newcastle Red Bulls, Rodney Parade

Newcastle Red Bulls suffered their first defeat of the EPCR Challenge Cup campaign as Dragons produced a strong second-half fightback to claim a bonus-point victory at Rodney Parade on Friday night.

Despite already securing a home Round of 16 tie, the Tynesiders were made to pay for three second-half sin-binnings in a physically demanding contest.

Newcastle led 12-7 at half-time after weathering heavy early pressure, defending multiple red-zone lineouts and winning key jackal penalties to relieve sustained Dragons attacks.

The deadlock was broken just after the half-hour when the hosts struck first. From a well-executed lineout move, Rio Dyer cut in from the left wing on a sharp diagonal line to score, with Angus O’Brien converting.

Newcastle responded emphatically with two tries in quick succession. Simon Benítez Cruz finished a flowing move sparked by Alex Hearle before Christian Wade sprinted 70 metres from the restart to add another. Ethan Grayson converted to give Newcastle a 12-7 lead at the break.

Dragons turned the match on its head after the restart. A yellow card for Jamie Hodgson proved costly, and the extra man was immediately used as Brodie Coghlan scored from a driving maul.

O’Brien’s conversion edged the hosts ahead, and Dragons maintained pressure as Newcastle struggled with discipline.

Dyer struck again for his second try, exploiting space on the right after sustained phases, with O’Brien again adding the extras. The decisive moment came on 69 minutes when Newcastle were reduced to 13 men, Tom Gordon and Reuben Parsons both sent to the sin bin as Dragons were awarded a penalty try from another dominant maul, sealing the four-try bonus point.

Dai Richards added a final try in the closing minute to cap a resurgent Dragons performance, as Newcastle were left frustrated after a promising first half.

Team line up:

Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; De Beer, Hope; W Jones, Coghlan, Hunt, Woodman, Carter (co-capt), Keddie, Young, Wainwright.

Reserves: G Roberts, Martinez, Dlamini, Douglas, Lewis-Hughes, R Williams, Ackerman, C Evans.

Newcastle: Obatoyinbo; Wade, Arnold, Hutchison, Hearle; Grayson, Benitez Cruz; McCallum, McGuigan (capt), Palframan, Usher, Hodgson, Lockwood, Christie, Gordon.

Reserves: Fletcher, Brocklebank, De Bruin, Baker, Parsons, J Elliott, Beeckmans, Greenwood.
Dragons overturn Newcastle to claim bonus-point victory at Rodney Parade.