Dragons repel Sale Sharks fightback in Challenge Cup
Last Updated: 15/11/15 6:39pm
Newport Gwent Dragons got their European Challenge Cup campaign off to a strong start with a 30-12 bonus-point win over Sale Sharks at Rodney Parade.
The home side crossed three times in the opening 40 minutes as Ollie Griffiths, man-of-the-match Rynard Landman and Adam Hughes gave them a comprehensive 17-0 lead.
After the break Sale hit back with scores from James Mitchell and Jonathan Mills but they could not complete the fightback and the Dragons sealed the victory and the bonus-point when Matthew Screech bundled over five minutes from time.
The Dragons dominated their opponents in the first half with back row forward Griffiths showing great pace to race over for a fourth-minute try.
Sale spent a period camped in the Dragons' half and went close through Viliami Fihaki and Brian Mujati before the TMO overruled both scores.
Dragons captain Landman extended the lead on 27 minutes after a break from Sarel Pretorious left the Sale defence in disarray and the lock exploited a gap to burrow over.
Hughes secured the Dragons' third try shortly before half-time when his show-and-go fooled the Sale defence buying him enough time to barge over.
Sale crucially scored first after the break after a period of possession and a break from Nick Macleod allowed them to attack before 20-year-old scrum-half Mitchell scampered over.
The Dragons hit back immediately through the boot of Dorian Jones before Phil Price was sent to the sin-bin for coming in the side of a quick-moving Sale maul.
Steve Diamond's men took full advantage of the extra man as Mills steered a driving maul over the try line to reduce the Dragons' lead to eight after 54 minutes.
Jones kicked a further three points to nudge the hosts further ahead before Screech powered his way over in the 75th minute to ensure Dragons took the full five points.
