by Michael Wicherek
DRAGONS opened their European Challenge Cup campaign with a superb all-round performance against French club Castres.
A high intensity first half performance shot the Dragons into an early 18 point lead and a determined second half display saw them seal maximum points.
Both sides were keen to utilise the backs throughout in an entertaining clash at Rodney Parade.
A pick and go from scrum-half Luke Baldwin nearly saw the home side over the line early on.
However, from the resulting penalty the Dragons found touch just five yards out. A well set maul drove the ball over for the first try of the match scored by Taine Basham.
📸ACTION | First half action @rodneyparade #DRAvCAS pic.twitter.com/rKPyaL3OPi
— Dragons 🏉 (@dragonsrugby) November 16, 2019
Castres lock Kevin Gimeno and Dragons captain Richard Hibbard were involved in an off the ball incident soon after that threatened to boil over as tempers flared at Rodney Parade.
The home side drove over another try after Max Williams once again gathered Hibbard’s lineout. Basham finished off the move which started with a brilliant run by winger Daf Howells.
Howells got a try of his own when he intercepted a long pass inside his own half to extend the score to 21-3.
A loose pass by Tyler Morgan was gathered by Taylor Paris who ran over for an easy score to reduce the deficit to 11 points.
Basham rounded off his first half with a hat trick when the number 8 picked off a pass following a Castres line out running the ball 50 yards to regain the home sides 18 point lead.
Castres came out flying in the second half but the Dragons held firm. That was until Williams was sent to the sin bin.
Castres skipper Ludovic Radosavljevic crossed the line following a succession of scrums as the Dragons defence began to tire.
Roared on by the home support, Newport rallied and earned a penalty which the sure-footed Sam Davies duely converted.
A succession of Castres penalties just yards from the line forced more dogged defensive work from the home team.
The French side kept opting for the lineout but were continually forced back by their welsh counterparts.
Newport’s defence held firm for the remaining minutes as the home side sealed victory in the opening match of Pool 1.
Man of the Match – Taine Basham
🍾 MOTM | @TaineBash07 collects his man of the match prize presented by Ray Adams @nicheifa
Taine's first half hat trick was the first in Europe for the Dragons since Tom Prydie in 2014 #DRAvCAS pic.twitter.com/iOv81jrL0M
— Dragons 🏉 (@dragonsrugby) November 16, 2019