OVER to you Brive. Newport Gwent Dragons set up a winner-takes-all clash thanks to a late charge for a vital bonus point in victory against Enisei-STM, now they just wait to see what will be needed in France.

The Dragons headed into the European Rugby Challenge Cup clash at Rodney Parade needing a five-point haul to keep their bid for a third successive season of knockout rugby alive.

But it took a stream of points in the final quarter with the Russians unable to stem the late flow after frustrating their hosts for an hour.

Rhys Thomas scored from a driving lineout in the first half, his replacement Rhys Buckley repeated the trick just past the hour and then mightily impressive number eight Harri Keddie, who came off the bench early in the second half, scored a brace to prompt sighs of relief from a sparse crowd on a perishing night.

South Wales Argus:

Now attention turns to the Stade Amédée-Domenech where tomorrow evening Brive host Worcester.

If the French side record their own bonus-point win then they will just need to avoid a 5-0 matchday points defeat on home territory next weekend.

A narrow home success would open the door slightly more for the Dragons and an unlikely Warriors victory would leave Kingsley Jones' men 'only' needing to win on their travels for the first time this season.

But all that the Dragons could do was give themselves a shot at the quarters and they set up a showdown by gaining revenge against an Enisei side who had dismantled them in Krasnodar in October.

The home line-up featured 14 players who had taken to the field at Trud Stadium, so there was no danger of them taking their guests lightly.

It was a cold night but crucially dry to help the Dragons' bid for the bonus and, after a sloppy start from the kick-off, they turned the screw.

Wing Adam Warren went close with a burst into the 22 and then an overthrown lineout by the visitors enabled the pack to go on the charge, earning a fifth-minute penalty that fly-half Dorian Jones slotted over.

However, Enisei responded and had the better of possession and territory only for a five-metre scrum to lead to nothing then Yury Kushnarev, who had a perfect day from the tee in Krasnodar, was short with a long-range penalty.

It was a night for staying patient and the Dragons got their first try on the board after 20 minutes when a fine grubber by Sarel Pretorius earned a five-metre lineout thanks to full-back Ramil Gaisin being forced into touch.

Rhys Thomas hit Matthew Screech, the ball was shifted and then the hooker guided the pack over the line for a score that Jones converted.

The Dragons kept the pressure on with Pretorius pulling the strings and Adam Warren, a centre playing on the wing, making a real impression.

They settled for three more points from Jones after a super break by the number 11 in a bid to crack the Russians' resolve as half-time approached.

But back came the spirited Siberians and it took some desperate defending to prevent giant wing Denis Simplikevich from crossing in the left corner.

The Dragons would have been pretty content with a 13-0 lead at the break but aware that they had plenty of work to do if they were to bag their bonus.

Instead it was the visitors that started on the front foot and it took some excellent goalline defence for the Dragons to prevent Enisei from troubling the scoreboard operator.

The hosts couldn't get a foothold and it became nervier with every passing minute.

Then on 53 minutes the Russians got the score that their efforts deserved with a wide pass setting the huge, and on this occasion unstoppable, Simplikevich down the left for a five-pointer.

Kushnarev's conversion failed to go over after hitting the right post then the crossbar and he then failed with a long-range penalty as the Dragons struggled to get going.

However, the bonus hunt was back on in the 63rd minute when the driving lineout worked for a second time with replacement hooker Rhys Buckley mirroring Thomas.

The clock was ticking loudly and there were seven minutes left when replacement number eight Harri Keddie scored from a pushover scrum, O'Brien adding the routine extras for 27-5.

But there was great relief all round when Keddie scored a much tougher effort almost straight away, going on the charge in the 22 and leaving Russians scattered on the turf to go under the posts.

Wing Igor Kurashov had the final say by powering over down the right but it was job done for the Dragons, although it was a little too close for comfort thanks to the determination of impressive Enisei.

Dragons: C Meyer (A Hughes 51), T Prydie, T Morgan, J Dixon, A Warren, D Jones (A O'Brien 56), S Pretorius (T Knoyle 50), S Hobbs (T Davies 50), R Thomas (R Buckley 50), B Harris (L Fairbrother 78), M Screech (C Hill 46), R Landman, N Crosswell (captain), N Cudd, E Jackson (H Keddie 41).

Scorers: tries – R Thomas, R Buckley, H Keddie (2); conversions – D Jones, A O'Brien (3); penalties – D Jones (2)

Enisei: R Gaisin, I Kurashov, J Baranovs (captain, T Halse 67), Dmitrii Gerasimov, D Simplikevich, Y Kushnarev, A Shcherban, A Polivalov (V Morozov ), S Magomedov (N Gasanov 52), J Grey (A Musin 67), V Krasylnyk (E Elgin 57), M Gargalic, M Gachechiladze, P Butenko (V Orlov 27), A Rudoi.

Scorers: tries – D Simplikevich, I Kurashov

Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)

Attendance: 3,544

Argus star man: Mikheil Gachechiladze