Sweeney inspires Dragons
By Tony Curtis
Last Updated: 05/04/26 7:38pm
Newport-Gwent Dragons bowed out of the EDF Energy Cup despite victory over Northampton.
Newport-Gwent Dragons bowed out of the EDF Energy Cup despite recording a 26-7 win over Northampton.
Both clubs knew that only a maximum points haul would keep their respective semi-final hopes alive.
However, neither could manage it, leaving Leicester - 35-20 victors over Worcester - in an unassailable position at the top Group D with one round of matches to go.
And as the Saints meekly bowed out with their second defeat, the Dragons could at least take some consolation from an encouraging performance.
The Wales fly-half Ceri Sweeney topped the scoring with 13 points - courtesy of three penalties and two conversions - while Gareth Wyatt and Richard Fussell crossed for tries and Nathan Brew slotted over a drop goal.
The best the Saints could muster was a try from Mark Robinson, converted Robbie Kydd, with the loss of New Zealand Carlos Spencer to a groin injury adding to their misery.
Sweeney was in impressive form, opening the scoring with a penalty before setting Wyatt away for the opening try. Sweeney converted and then added another penalty before Robinson crossed for the Saints' only try.
Hopes of a Northampton fightback were extinguished, though, when Sweeney was on target with his third penalty.
Four minutes after the interval the Dragons put the game out of sight, when Russell pierced the Saints defence to dive over. Again Sweeney slotted over the extras.
However, despite a concerned spell of pressure from the home side, they just could not find the extra two tries they needed for a bonus point - and they had to make do with Brew's drop goal on the stroke of full-time.
