A WELSHMAN masterminded the destruction of the Dragons Premiership Select at Ystrad Mynach as former Scarlets and Ospreys number 8 Rory Pitman scored a hat-trick of tries for Jersey in their convincing win, writes Ian Golden.

Dragons PS' indiscipline cost them as they struggled to gain a foothold on their own artificial pitch, while the torrential rain sweeping through the ground on a fairly strong wind throughout was certainly not helping matters.

Jersey attacked from the off. Kieran Hardy broke and it looked like a certain try for the visitors, with Conor Joyce in support, but his pass to Joyce was too low.

However, Dragons PS gave away a penalty in the resulting scrum and kept giving them away near to their own five metre line. Jersey carried on with the scrummaging and eventually a penalty try was awarded giving them a 7-0 lead.

Despite the Dragons giving away most of the penalties, it was Jersey who were first to be down to 14 men after their skipper Jake Woolmore was sinbinned for a dangerous tackle on Nathan Hudd.

The Dragons took advantage straight away when a pin-point kick reached the unmarked Rio Dyer who sprinted over in the corner. Dorian Jones’ kick was excellent as it went through the sticks to level the scores.

But Jersey regained the lead from their next play. After winning a penalty, the driving maul saw Pitman ground in the corner for an unconverted try.

The lead could have been extended but Tom Pincus had a try disallowed for obstruction five minutes before the break and the half ended 12-7 in Jersey’s favour.

Brendan Cope kicked a penalty in front of the sticks to extended their advantage ten minutes into the second half and within four minutes they were awarded a second penalty try bringing the score up to 22-7.

The game was over for the Dragons when Garin Harris was sinbinned just minutes after coming on as sub, as from the penalty, Jersey got their bonus point try through Pitman, the conversion sailing wide.

Jersey’s fifth try, ten minutes from the end, also came from Pitman, claiming his hat-trick with a typical drive from short range, with Cope converting.

Dragons: W Talbot-Davies, J Goodchild, C Smith, D Jones, R Dyer, A Robson (B Nightingale 54), O Leonard (J Leadbeater 62); P Price (J Lavender 62), E Shipp (A Rees 62), K Bale (G Harris 54), S Andrews, L Randall, L Evans (B Roach 40), N Hudd (J Skinner 40), J Sheekey.

Scorers - Tries: Rio Dyer, Con: Dorian Jones

Jersey: J Worrall (J Dudley 50); T Pincus, A Ma'afu, M Best, J Hodson, B Cope, K Hardy (S McClurg 50), J Woolmore, N Selway (J Macfarlane 55), L Atalifo (A Clarey 58), J Sexton, T Quarrie (J Voss 46), R Bartle (S Nagle-Taylor 55), C Joyce, R Pitman

Scorers - Tries: Rory Pitman 3. Penalty Tries 2. Cons: Cope, Pens: Cope

Referee: Nigel Correll (Ireland)

Dragons Star Man: Scott Andrews