Dragons 29-13 Southern Kings: Bonus-point win for Dragons
Last Updated: 01/10/17 7:33am
The Dragons secured their second Guinness PRO14 victory in five matches with a bonus-point 29-13 triumph over South African newcomers Southern Kings at Rodney Parade.
Welsh side Dragons never looked like losing from the moment Welsh international wing Hallam Amos put them ahead after six minutes with a try converted by fly-half Gavin Henson.
The hosts piled on the pressure, with hooker Elliot Dee scoring two tries, Amos adding another and Henson booting a penalty and two conversions.
Southern Kings stand-off Pieter-Steyn de Wet landed two penalties before the break and converted flanker Andisa Ntsila's try in the second half but they offered little else.
Home scrum-half Sarel Pretorius impressed, while number eight James Benjamin was involved heavily throughout the match.
In a rain-soaked encounter, De Wet put the Kings ahead after three minutes, but the home side were soon in front when Benjamin fed Amos for a simple run-in on the left.
Henson and De Wet traded penalties before centre Tyler Morgan just failed to ground a lovely kick to the Kings try-line from Pretorious.
The South Africans had some territory around the half-hour mark but they could not penetrate the home defence.
And their defensive frailties were exposed when Benjamin took an attacking line-out five metres from the South Africans' line that gave Dee a simple jog over as the visiting pack's resistance disintegrated.
The writing was on the wall for the Kings when Benjamin fed Amos inside the 22 for another simple score.
On the stroke of half-time, lock Matthew Screech stretched under a pile of forwards but was just short of the line.
But the Dragons grabbed their bonus point fourth touchdown from another driving line-out which had Dee at the back of a maul to place the ball over soon after the interval.
Well ahead, the Dragons rang the changes and the momentum shifted to the opposition. Thinking the job was done, the Welshmen eased off and that allowed Ntsila to touchdown and saw De Wet convert from the touchline.
Home prop Leon Brown was binned for a no-arms tackle 11 minutes before the end, yet Kings could not make their late numerical advantage pay.
