6:00am Monday 16th November 2009
By Chris Kirwan
THREE spectacular tries, a ferocious defensive effort and oodles of spirit but ultimately no reward.
Newport Gwent Dragons pushed a Leicester side featuring eight internationals all the way in the LV Cup before the streetwise hosts sealed the deal in the closing stages.
There was much to admire about the display of head coach Paul Turner’s side and they gave the Tigers plenty of nervy moments.
Full-back Jason Tovey and wing Aled Brew raced over for stunning, breakaway tries in the first half and Rhodri Davies grabbed an interception try after the break but it was a familiar problem that was the Dragons’ undoing, and it just happens to be one of Leicester’s strengths.
If the Tigers were invited to choose their weapon for a battle they would ignore pistols, shotguns or bazookas for a scrum.
Even without international props Julian White, Martin Castrogiovanni and Marcos Ayerza they gave the Dragons a hiding, forcing the visiting coaching staff to withdraw Peter Bracken and winning a penalty try (and in truth there could have been more).
Turner would love to have such riches, yet unfortunately a tighthead or loosehead of that quality would blow most of his budget.
It was that raw power up front that sealed the win for the Tigers, though the performance of referee Tim Wigglesworth didn’t help either.
Both coaches slammed the official after the game – Leicester chief Richard Cockerill saying he was out of his depth – but the Dragons bore the brunt of his ineptitude at the breakdown.
It was a display that even a Scottish official would be ashamed of.
The Dragons started well with fly-half Shaun Connor striking the right post with a penalty won after just 12 seconds but a pair of Jeremy Staunton penalties and a pushover try put the Tigers in a commanding 11-0 lead with 25 minutes gone.
The Leicester try scorer was Jordan Crane and while he tried manfully it is easy to see why the solid, yet one-paced number eight was released from England duty.
Perhaps he should be tried at lock because he certainly didn’t outshine opposite number Grant Webb, who grafted away all afternoon along with openside Gavin Thomas and the excellent lock Adam Jones. It looked like the Tigers would stretch away but the visitors burst into life when they won turnover ball 10 yards inside their own half with 30 minutes gone.
Winger Will Harries went racing down the right, turned young Tigers wing Will Hurrell inside out and put full-back Tovey under the sticks.
It was a sparkling score but was made to look run of the mill by Brew’s effort on the stroke of half-time.
The Tigers smelt blood and were opting for scrums rather than kicking for goal deep inside the Dragons 22 when the visitors won the put-in when the set piece turned 180 degrees.
The Leicester defence went to sleep and the ball was worked from the base of the scrum to wing Brew, who made the most of some sloppy tackling to go over for a breathtaking 95-metre try.
The backs caused Leicester plenty of problems and centre Tom Riley gets better and better while Tovey proved why he is the better option that Martyn Thomas.
Unfortunately the dream half-time lead of 12-11 didn’t last long.
Centre Anthony Allen went over a minute into the second half for the hosts (though there was a hint of crossing) and a penalty try appeared to be the killer blow.
But Connor banged over a penalty and Davies intercepted a loose pass from the off-colour former All Black Scott Hamilton to set up a moment that the Dragons would be left to rue.
Young Bedwas fly-half Adam Greendale shanked the simple conversion, leaving the score at 23-20.
The Tigers, without plenty of stars but still boasting a wealth of big-game experience, closed it out and replacement fly-half Toby Flood booted over a pair of late penalties.
The Dragons were out of bonus point range and didn’t get one despite hammering away at the Tigers line at the death, though it has to be said that Tovey was fortunate to not give away a second penalty try when his knock on looked to have denied Flood a clear run-in.
It is always a hot topic when the subject of the name of the region comes up – well forget whether it should be Newport, Gwent or both that should be dropped from the title, there is a case for changing the latter part of it.
For Paul Turner’s side have come so close on so many occasions that they could change from the Dragons to the ‘If Onlys’.
Just like at Gloucester, Leinster and Munster they were resolute, determined and wholehearted yet once again a famous win eluded them.
Leicester: C Hamilton, L Tuqiri, A Forsyth, A Allen, W Hurrell (M Smith 50), J Staunton (T Flood 58), B Youngs (J Grindal 72), B Stankovich (R Harris 72), G Chuter (M Davies 58), D Cole, G Parling, B Kay (captain, C Green 58), C Newby, B Pienaar, J Crane.
Scorers: tries - J Crane, A Allen, penalty try; conversions - J Staunton; penalties - J Staunton (2), T Flood (2)
Dragons: J Tovey (M Thomas 71), W Harries, R Davies, T Riley, A Brew, S Connor (captain, A Greendale 58), W Evans (A Walker 57), H Gustafson (D Watchurst 59), D Goodfield (S Jones 58), P Bracken (P Palmer 36), R Sidoli, A Jones, H MacDonald (T Faletau 58), G Thomas (J Harris 62), G Webb.
Scorers: tries - J Tovey, A Brew, R Davies; conversions - S Connor; penalty - S Connor
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU)
Attendance: 16,297
Argus star man: Adam Jones
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