Dragons shock leaders

Dragons turned the Magners League table on its head as they secured a surprise victory over leaders Munster at Rodney Parade.

The victory saw the Welsh side climb to eighth in the table, leapfrogging Connacht, Glasgow Warriors and Benetton Treviso, while Munster's lead at the top was cut to four points after Ulster won in Italy.

Dragons were in control by half-time and were full value for their 17-3 lead at the break.

Munster hardly threatened during the opening period and paid a heavy price for having two players yellow-carded.

Outside-half Jason Tovey missed a couple of long-range penalties for Dragons early on, but the hosts' dominace earned its reward when number eight Toby Faletau drove his way upfield and presented the ball at a ruck.

The ball went across the backs for Tovey to give centre Tom Riley a fine pass on a direct run through the Munster midfield for a neat try.

Munster soon afterwards lost centre Sam Tuitupou for a high tackle on the home stand-off.

The Dragons took advantage as former Wales flanker Gavin Thomas was just held up by a brilliant last-gasp tackle from scrum-half Tomas O'Leary as he turned to touch down.

But the back-row would not be denied and, after Faletau drove from a maul close to the Munster line, Thomas got the ball and drove over under a pile of bodies from two metres.

13 men

Worse was to come for Munster as they went down to 13 men when number eight James Coughlan was binned for deliberate offside.

Tovey regained the 14-point advantage with a penalty just before half-time after opposite number Paul Warwick booted a 20-metre shot for Munster's first points of the game.

Munster came out strongly after the break and had the home team on the back foot for the third quarter but only added a Warwick penalty to their total, although they were helped when home skipper Tom Willis was yellow-carded for being off his feet at a ruck.

But Munster could not take advantage of the extra man and Dragons restored their 14-point advantage when Tovey booted a 30-metre drop-goal on 68 minutes.

The visitors had one or two chances, the best being when full-back Scott Deasy kicked over the home defence - but a superb cover tackle from opposite number Pat Leach denied the try.

And while Munster laid siege to the Dragons' line in the final moments, the hosts held firm and denied their opponents even a losing bonus point.