C'Mon Dragons, please cheer us all up a bit this afternoon...!

LV= Cup: Dragons v Northampton (Sun)

LV= CUP: DRAGONS V NORTHAMPTON
Venue: Rodney Parade Date: Sunday, 18 November Kick-off: 15:15 GMT
Coverage: Score updates on the BBC website

Dan Evans and Wayne Evans form a new half back partnership for the Newport Gwent Dragons in their LV= Cup clash against Northampton.
The Dragons and the Saints are both looking for their first win in the competition at Rodney Parade on Sunday.
Scrum half Wayne Evans returns makes his first start of the season after injury.
"It's good to be back playing at Rodney Parade with my first competitive start this season," said Evans.
"I look forward to playing alongside Dan Evans and in front of the Dragons faithful."
Hugh Gustafson, Owen Evans, Adam Jones, Nic Cudd and young gun Ieuan Jones, all retain their places in the starting line-up.

Captain Ashley Smith reverts back to his usual position at number twelve, after coming on as a replacement outside half against Bath. Tom Prydie also steps in at number fifteen, and he is replacing Hallam Amos who is injured.
The Welsh Pro12 region lost 36-15 at Bath in their opening game, conceding three tries. The Saints were beaten 31-30 by Harlequins at Franklin's Gardens in the first-round.

Dragons:Tom Prydie, Will Harries, Pat Leach, Ashley Smith (capt), Tonderai Chavhanga, Dan Evans, Wayne Evans; Owen Evans, Hugh Gustafson, Dan Way, Adam Jones, Rob Sidoli, Ieuan Jones, Nic Cudd, Tom Brown.

Replacements: Steve Jones, Phil Price, Nathan Buck, Ian Nimmo, Lewis Evans, Jonathan Evans, Lewis Robling, Jack Dixon

Saints:15 Tom May, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Dom Waldouck, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 GJ Van Velze, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Calum Clark (capt), 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Paul Doran Jones, 2 Mike Haywood, 1 Alex Waller.

Replacements: 16 Ross Mcmillan, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Rhys Oakley, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Scott Armstrong, 23 Tom Collins.

C'mon Dragons!

Yup come on Dragons - lets see how W Evans does now he's back - but bigger question is that they've got a very young pack out so it'll be interesting how they go...

Not sure about this ref. I feel like he’s missed a few things already and isn’t allowing the Dragons to compete at the breakdown. No pen for the scrum the Dragons won or offside for the scrum half.

0-3 to saints...

Try Chavanga
Converted Prydie
10 - 6

5 mins to half time.

HT

Looks like a very good LV crowd for the Dragons there, whats the turnout?

Saints are playing like Wales slow along the backs, there is a chance of an interception the way they are floating the ball. The Dragons are much quicker and look more dangerous when they get the ball, great try. Ref seems a little one eyed, can't work out how Dan Evans got pinged.

Enjoyable game both teams are trying to play I suspect the Saints will win out, hope I am wrong.

Pretty serious sub there Brian Mujati is a monster in the scrum and a big ball carrier for Saints

Wooosh!

Chav got another try

15 - 9 pens all by Lamb

This ref has been awful. One man on his own sacked that maul and hes pinged him.

Dowson scores and Lamb converts

15-16 to Saints

15 pens so far...

And Jones has been pinged 4 times on the bounce now? How is he on the pitch?

lamb converts a brace of penalties 15-22

Bucks taking the card for Jones inability to think (or play the game)

game is all but over now!!

Adam Jones another side entry, he has to be sacked FFS!!

Try Saints game well and truly over after 62 mins.

Coleman wrote:This ref has been awful.

He isn't improving much either.

Am I missing something, or are Saints allowed to contest the ball whenever they like now? Holding the ball on both knees, players screaming he's off his feet scrum saints???

I'm not convinced Dowson's try was a legal driving maul. This ref isn't giving us much like.

Adam Jones and Sid need to be put out to pasture. We had a young lad from UWIC on the bench last week (Josh Tyler), but didn't give him a run. Totally pointless when we need to develop new locks.

15 - 27 post Elliot try.

jon Evans on for wayne evans at 9. 65 mins gone

Risca

There isn't much in the academy either!!! A few decent players but no stand out player to use as a lock at all, worrying!!

In touch chavanga! Unlucky, or has it been given?

Lewis Evans has made a difference here, some great carrying up the middle, offering hisself everytime!!

Or is it just the comentators? Evans, to Evans, on to Evans

About time the officials got something wrong for us. Needed Prydie to kick that. Think we have too much to do being 7 behind.

Attendance 5312. Not bad.

Chav gets his third...!

20-27

Its not quite over yet, Dragons have done enough here... 71 mins gone....

C'Mon Dragons

Risca Rev wrote:Attendance 5312. Not bad.

According to most on here thats an appalling figure, I disagree. Well done Rodney Parade.

5k is pretty decent for a LV game IMO, wasn't it about 5k or so at wasps too?

Ahhh. drop Goal by Lamb

20 - 30

Sunday game in a poor competition isn't it. Not going to do more really. So yeah, fair play to the Dragons.

Jabba dropping that ball was terrible, but I thought the Saints guy should've been penalised in the ruck before that. They've been better second half though have Saints.

thebluesmancometh wrote:5k is pretty decent for a LV game IMO, wasn't it about 5k or so at wasps too?

Is it free for season ticket holders?

Oh well FT arrives.

20 - 30...

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:5k is pretty decent for a LV game IMO, wasn't it about 5k or so at wasps too?

Is it free for season ticket holders?

Of course it is. But the number of them is probably 3-4 thou tops.

I enjoyed that. Dragons were well beaten forward but played attractive rugby and their defence was excellent. The Saints are a big team while the Dragons are struggling with little support - it is so sad that Gwent rugby followers persist with their prejudice against anything "Newport". Newport is the natural centre for the county with all transport routes leading to the town - what other Gwent town would attract bigger gates?

I enjoyed that. Dragons were well beaten forward but played attractive rugby and their defence was excellent. The Saints are a big team while the Dragons are struggling with little support - it is so sad that Gwent rugby followers persist with their prejudice against anything "Newport". Newport is the natural centre for the county with all transport routes leading to the town - what other Gwent town would attract bigger gates?

In regards to the crowd unless we have a derby match every game is roughly the Sam 5-6K. We have a solid fan base but were not really attacking the fair weather fans as we're playing rubbish.

We looked a bit hungrier tonight and I thought a few lads really put there hands uo for a regular spot.
It will be interesting to see who DE pucks at 10 Friday.

Agreed Lewis Evans was impressive when he came on!

stourjim wrote:I enjoyed that. Dragons were well beaten forward but played attractive rugby and their defence was excellent. The Saints are a big team while the Dragons are struggling with little support - it is so sad that Gwent rugby followers persist with their prejudice against anything "Newport". Newport is the natural centre for the county with all transport routes leading to the town - what other Gwent town would attract bigger gates?

I have to agree to a point that Newport (and the home stadiums for all the regions) are placed where they make the most sense with regards to transport/population. I think the majority of the time it is people who are outside of the regions that do the most complaining about it though, as opposed to the rugby fans within the regions. I would guess that the Dragons being the lower of the regions, and not getting the wins, would be more of a reason for the lower attendances than people staying away because it is in NEwport.

It's a chicken and egg situation. If a club has no money it cannot afford stars and continues to struggle. There has to be either a benefactor or the money must come through the turnstiles. The Dragons seem to find and develop plenty of young talent but lose them. Recently - Tovey, Charteris, Fussell, all home grown and lost.

stourjim

Doesn't that make the Dragons pioneers of welsh rugby

I should explain.I am living in Eastbourne but I am a native of Abertillery although I left in 1963. Gwent rugby is still of great interest and I never miss an opportunity of watching the Dragons on tele. I was once Asst Sec. of Abertillery and it is sad to see the decline of the Gwent town sides - with the honorable exception of Xkeys.

Hey, Bedwas are top of the Premiership and the 'Port downed Neef at home last weekend!

stourjim wrote:It's a chicken and egg situation. If a club has no money it cannot afford stars and continues to struggle. There has to be either a benefactor or the money must come through the turnstiles. The Dragons seem to find and develop plenty of young talent but lose them. Recently - Tovey, Charteris, Fussell, all home grown and lost.

Best not mention that word, he whispered softly.
It confuses and irritates in a unique and very Welsh, smoke and mirrors kind of WRU type way.
So be safe.
Is it safe?
Is it safe??
Stick to the "R" word for now, while it lasts.
Saying that, I can't wait for the dormant black and ambers to wake the hell up.

Stone Motif wrote:Hey, Bedwas are top of the Premiership and the 'Port downed Neef at home last weekend!

Where is Bedwas? Is it out West somewhere?

Do Dragons fans think they could overtake Cardiff Blues, I'd say finishing ahead of them and getting a H-cup spot would be a boost for the region.
6 points behind them, its possible that the Blues could enter freefall? Blues have only won one more game.

If Dragons had beaten blues at home it would be very close between them, I'd say Dragons still have a chance to overtake them.

It's doable, Kingshu, but we're on a horrible run of results - our worst ever, according to the Beeb.

Our run-in in the Rabo isn't the kindest: our last six games are against Leinster (home), the Ospreys (away), the Scarlets (home), Ulster (away), Munster (home) and Edinburgh (away). That said, I don't know what the Blues' run-in looks like.

First things first, though, we need to stop the rot against Connacht tonight - and they won the last time they came to Newport.

Kingshu wrote:Do Dragons fans think they could overtake Cardiff Blues, I'd say finishing ahead of them and getting a H-cup spot would be a boost for the region.
6 points behind them, its possible that the Blues could enter freefall? Blues have only won one more game.

If Dragons had beaten blues at home it would be very close between them, I'd say Dragons still have a chance to overtake them.

That extra win was against the Dragons at Dave Parade, seeing as derby matches can go anyway I would not rule out the Dragons picking up a win in the return fixture.

The blues freefall is pretty bad IMO, saw them feild a pretty strong side in the LV= at PYS and they offered nothing. IMO they unless the Blues pick up a win in the next fortnight they will end up falling apart even more when the welsh squad members return.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:It's doable, Kingshu, but we're on a horrible run of results - our worst ever, according to the Beeb.

Our run-in in the Rabo isn't the kindest: our last six games are against Leinster (home), the Ospreys (away), the Scarlets (home), Ulster (away), Munster (home) and Edinburgh (away). That said, I don't know what the Blues' run-in looks like.

First things first, though, we need to stop the rot against Connacht tonight - and they won the last time they came to Newport.

Could be worse. Ulster, Munster and Leinster will probably have taken their eye off the league to try and push in the HEC (or safe in the play-offs and ease off). Scarlets and Ospreys will be welsh derby matches, so who knows, and Edinburgh will most likley still be looking to break their losing streak.