Ulster Rugby vs Newport Gwent Dragons

TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION

Newport Gwent Dragons head to Ulster with ten first team players injured, including Captain Lee Byrne, a further three requiring late fitness tests and Taulupe Faletau leading a trio of Wales call-ups.

The Men of Gwent come back into tonight’s Guinness PRO12 match after two games in the European Rugby Challenge Cup. The Dragons secured a bonus point win against tough French side Stade Francais and went into Round 2 of the Challenge Cup with a positive attitude. Both the Men of Gwent and Newcastle Falcons were top of the table as they were neck-and-neck with points, so this game was going to be a nail biter. The Dragons played with ease and precision after Richie Rees crossed the white wash with the first try of the night followed by Pewtner who made it over. However it didn’t stay this way for too long as Hallam Amos had a clearance kick charged down, to put the Falcons into the lead. However the hosts fought back just before half time with Taulupe Faletau crossing the try line and Tom Prydie adding the extras, only for Newcastle to respond with a penalty at half time – ending the first half 15-15. After 10 minutes of the second half the visitors were leading 27-20 after two tries from them and just one from the Dragons. In the closing stages it was 30-26 to the Falcons and as the Dragons hammered away at the line as the clock counted down and kicked a penalty to the corner, only to be penalised on the final whistle.

Now with a break in the European competition the Dragons can look forward to playing in the Guinness PRO12. The Welsh Region’s last game in the PRO12 was against Edinburgh rugby when they lost out to a strong Scottish side at BT Murrayfield. Before that game the Welsh Region took on the Scarlets only to be once again pushed out as the final whistle ended the match on a score of 26-13. The Dragons’ only victory in the PRO12 has been against Benetton Treviso with a win of 33-15 at Rodney Parade. It was Man of the Match Amos, who scored two of the Dragons four tries in this hard fought win against the Italians. Centre Ashley Smith and scrum half Jonathan Evans also crossed the white wash for the Gwent side. The Welsh Region took full control of the game with real attacking intent and great defensive skills which showed in the score line. As the Dragons sit in ninth place in the Guinness PRO12 table and the Ulster men occupy third place; tonight’s game will prove to be a timely test against this hard hitting Irish side.

CLUB STATS //Location Newport, Wales //Founded 2003 //Ground Rodney Parade //Capacity 9,082 //Last Game Edinburgh Rugby (A) 24-10 (L) Sat 11 Oct 2014 at 14.40 //Next Game Munster Rugby (H) Fri 21st Nov 2014 at 19:30 //Recent Form L L W L L STAFF // Head Coach Lynn Jones/Kingsley Jones

//Captain Lee Byrne

CONTACT Rodney Parade Newport Gwent NP19 0UU Wales

Tel 01633 670690 Fax 01633 670696

TICKET OFFICE Tel +44 1633 674 990

www.newportgwentdragons.com

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