European Rugby Challenge Cup
Dragons start European campaign in style with Sharks win
PA Sport
November 15, 2015
Report Match details
Date/Time: Nov 15, 2015, 15:15 local, 15:15 GMT
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Dragons 30 - 12 Sale Sharks
Attendance: 4455  Half-time: 17 - 0
Tries: Griffiths, Hughes, Landman, Screech
Cons: Jones 2
Pens: Jones 2
Tries: Mills, Mitchell
Cons: Macleod

Newport Gwent Dragons began their European Challenge Cup campaign with a 30-12 win over Sale Sharks.

Tries from Ollie Griffiths, Rynard Landman, Adam Hughes and Matthew Screech, in addition to success with the boot from Dorian Jones, proved enough to build a comfortable lead and ultimately stave off Sale's fightback.

Griffiths' try came after only five minutes when he escaped Sale's defence and sprinted clear from 30 metres out.

In the 28th minute, Landman doubled the lead. Sarel Pretorius took possession from the base of a ruck before Jones played in Landman to score in the same place as Griffiths. Jones, having missed his earlier attempt, converted.

From wide after several phases in the Sale 22, Hughes crossed over just four minutes before half-time, building a commanding 17-0 lead at the break.

The Dragons' impressive defence was finally breached seven minutes into the second half when James Mitchell darted under the posts for Sale's first try.

Shortly after Jones extended the hosts' lead with a penalty, team-mate Phil Price was given a yellow card for hitting the side of a maul, and from a driving maul Jonathan Mills scored another try for the visitors.

With Sale well positioned to recover, Jones appeared to secure victory with another penalty, before, with five minutes remaining, a bonus point came with another score.

Sale were defending resiliently when the Dragons were consistently threatening another try but being held up, before Screech eventually went over to secure the final points of the game.

© PA Sport

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