Wasteful Dragons blow their chance in France

By ALEX BYWATER

Perpignan ……..20pts

Tries: Penalty 54, Ecochard 60, Plana 66

Conversions: Ecochard 62

Penalties: Ecochard 65

Dragons…………..16pts

Tries: Roberts 73

Conversions: S Davies 74

Penalties: S Davies 7, 21, 52

DEAN Ryan admitted the confidence of his Dragons side is shot to bits after the Welsh region threw away the chance of a winning Challenge Cup start.

Perpignan were there for the taking on home soil, but Dragons blew several good first-half opportunities and they led only 6-0 at the break thanks to Sam Davies.

The advantage should have been far more than just two Davies kicks, but Dragons couldn't pull clear even when their opponents saw two men yellow carded. Perpignan bounced back in the second half as Dragons also saw two men sent to the sin bin.

Dragons have not won a game since October 9.

“We are a side low on confidence at the minute,” said Dragons director of rugby Ryan. “I'm frustrated and disappointed. I don't know how many chances we created in the first half and we should have scored two or three times.

“When you don't take your opportunities in France, momentum starts to go against you and then we had two yellow cards. We couldn't get going.

“I expect more from all of us.”

Dragons made the close to 2,000-mile round trip from Newport to Perpignan all in one day in order to minimise any Covid-19 disruption. Tavis Knoyle did make a first-half break and Perpignan's Seilala Lam saw yellow for a high hit on Elliot Dee. The Wales hooker did not return and his replacement James Benjamin struggled, particularly at the line-out.

In the second half and with Dragons 6-0 up, Perpignan briefly went down to 13 when referee Christophe Ridley judged wing Nino Seguela to have deliberately knocked on. Dragons couldn't take advantage and Perpignan responded when they got back to 15 men. Ridley judged Knoyle to have come in the side and pulled down a driving French line-out maul. A penalty try was awarded.

Perpignan now had all the momentum. Impressive replacement Tom Ecochard sniped over from another maul and then Dragons centre Adam Warren was yellow carded for killing the ball. Ecochard kicked the penalty.

The game was up for the Dragons when, after replacement Jamie Roberts tried to kick ahead, Perpignan ran the ball back.

Baptiste Plana was the man to finish as he shrugged off Davies to score.

Roberts did grab one back for the Dragons with a trademark line from a Dan Babos pass and Davies converted, but it was too little, too late as Ecochard ended up changing the game.

Dragons did push for a late winner, but another Benjamin line-out throw was not straight and Perpignan held on.

Ryan again hinted at his disappointment post match that Dragons are the poorest of the four Welsh regions in terms of funding given to them by the WRU. “We can't be left drowning,” he said.

This is a familiar theme from Ryan and it has a degree of merit, but he would be better off focusing his attentions on improving what he has rather than wishing for more. His team are regressing badly despite the fact they have good players.

More is required and quickly because if there is not imminent improvement, another hugely underwhelming season is on the cards at Rodney Parade.

REFEREE: Christophe Ridley (Eng)

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