Pau ……………….. 12 Dragons ……….. 21
DRAGONS took revenge on Pau to record a first win in European competition for more than three years at Stade du Hameau. Wing Ashton Hewitt and centre Max Clark crossed for tries in the all-important victory to keep their Challenge Cup hopes alive.
This famous win means the Dragons are almost guaranteed a place in the last 16 with the six highest ranked clubs in each Pool qualifying for the next stage.
The visitors were 15-7 ahead at half-time through tries from Hewitt when Perpignan hooker and Clark after wing Daniel Ikpefan had given Pau an early lead.
Pau did stage a fightback with Vincent Pinto crossing for their second try after the break, but the Dragons held on for a well deserved victory that ended a seven-match streak without a win this season and was a first win in Europe since they beat Russian side Enissey STM in January 2020.
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said: “I'm really proud of the group. I thought we played some fantastic rugby and Ashton's try is probably as good as you'll see.”
Dragons went down to an early try after Ikpefan's chip and chase saw him cross for the try. Hewitt replied with the first of his side's two tries after scrumhalf Lewis Jones set him away with pass to see the wing cross from 20 metres out. Centre Clark then crashed over from short-range after a period of pressure.
The Pau pack did dominate proceedings up front and wing Pinto soon took advantage after the break to claw his side back in the contest but Will Reed landed a long-range penalty to stretch the Dragons lead before adding another late penalty by JJ Hanrahan sealed a famous European win.
TEAMS
PAU: Attissogbe 6 (Colombet 53, 5); Pinto 7, Reilhac 6, Decron 5, Ikpefan 6; Debaes 6 (Desperes 78, 5), Lebail (c) 5 (Levron 68, 5); Fisiihoi 6 (Calles 49, 6), Ruffenach 7 (Delhommel 56, 6), Corato 6 (Tokolahi 49, 5), Auradou 7, Metz 6 (Maximin 64, 5), Zegueur 7, Hamonou 6, Liufau 6 (Puech 51, 6) DRAGONS: Williams 6; Dyer 7, Hughes (c) 7, Clark 7 (Dixon 63, 5), Hewitt 7; Reed 8 (Hanrahan 5, 71), Jones 6 (Hope 73, 5); Evans 6 (Reynolds 64, 6), Roberts 6 (Coughlan 63, 6), Coleman 6 (Yendle 71, 5), Davies 6 (Carter 51, 6), Nott 6, Lonsdale 6, Basham 7, Griffiths 5 (Wainwright 35, 7)
REFEREE: Eoghan Cross (Ire) ATTENDANCE: 3,903
Star man Will Reed -Dragons
