A spirited second-half comeback was not enough to slay a clinical Dragons outfit in Newport this evening, (21-10)
Phil Godman put the boys in black and red ahead with an early penalty, but opposite number Jason Tovey responded with a three-pointer of his own moments later, before adding a further penalty to give Dragons the lead.
Both sides had men sent to the sin-bin in a match that was littered with penalties, and this seemed to disrupt the visitors, who looked dangerous in attack.
The numerical advantage soon told, though, and the home side took control.
Scrum-half Joe Bedford sniped over from close-range to grab the game’s first try before winger Aled Brew scored in the corner.
Tovey added both conversions and Edinburgh were up against it after half an hour.
HALF-TIME: DRAGONS 18-3 EDINBURGH RUGBY
Edinburgh Rugby emerged in the second half and threw everything at their hosts, but it wasn’t to be.
Tovey extended Dragons’ lead with a further penalty (21-3).
However, the visitors hard work was rewarded when Matt Scott’s break led to panic in the home defence, and lock Grant Gilchrist powered over for the try.
Replacement stand-off Gregor Hunter added the extras and Edinburgh were back in the game (21-10).
The home side dominated possession for large spells but a breakaway from flying winger Tim Visser nearly brought about a second Edinburgh try.
Visser's charge up field and some slick handling from Scott and replacement Jim Thompson nearly put Sep Visser away, but the pass didn’t quite go to hand.
The hosts held out for what was a hard-fought victory in the face of a strong Edinburgh comeback in the second period , but two tries in quick succession proved to be enough for Dragons to hold on for the four points.
FULL-TIME: DRAGONS 21-10 EDINBURGH RUGBY
Edinburgh Rugby: 15 Tom Brown, 14 Sep Visser, 13 Matt Scott, 12 John Houston, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Chris Leck; 1 Kyle Traynor, 2 Alun Walker, 3 Jack Gilding, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 5 Sean Cox, 6 Stuart McInally, 7 Roddy Grant CAPTAIN, 8 Netani Talei
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly (for Walker 40’), 17 Robin Hislop (for Traynor 54’), 18 Ulises Gamboa (for Gilding 54’), 19 Robert McAlpine, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Alex Black (for Leck 69’), 22 Gregor Hunter (for Godman, 52’), 23 Jim Thompson (for Houston, 18’)
Dragons: 15 Martyn Thomas, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Andy Tuilagi, 12 Ashley Smith CAPTAIN, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Joe Bedford; 1 Nathan Williams, 2 Steve Jones, 3 Nathan Buck, 4 Jevon Groves, 5 Rob Sidoli, 6 Lewis Evans, 7 Darren Waters, 8 Gavin Thomas
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Phil Price (for Williams 52’), 18 Dan Way (for Buck 60’), 19 Hugo Ellis (for Evans 69’), 20 Tom Brown (for Waters 68’), 21 Jon Evans, 22 Lewis Robling (for Smith 61’), 23 Will Harries (for Thomas 71’)
