Ed Jackson with the only try as Newport Gwent claim 13-0 win over Zebre
Last Updated: 12/09/15 12:59pm
Dragons number eight Ed Jackson scored the only try of the match as Newport Gwent Dragons claimed their first Guiness PRO12 win of the season with a 13-0 victory over Zebre.
Fly-half Jason Tovey converted Jackson's score and added two penalties as all the points came in the first-half at Rodney Parade.
It took 30 minutes for either side to warm to their task as a series of handling errors stymied the flow, with a 40-metre Tovey penalty the only score.
Jackson almost broke through as he raced towards the Zebre line early on, but his pass out wide was knocked on and although the visitors had patches of possession, the Dragons' defence held firm before Tovey added another three points following George Biagi's sin-binning for interference at a line-out.
The Dragons took full advantage of their extra man - lock Rynard Landman catching a line-out ball on the Zebre 22 and the home pack twisted and turned a rolling maul towards the Zebre line, allowing Jackson the simplest job of touching down.
Tovey converted to make it 13-0 and although the Dragons' concentration lapsed as half-time approached with the concession of two penalties, Italian fly-half Ulrich Beyers missed both opportunities.
The second-half was something of a non-affair with Zebre again finding themselves down to 14 men with 10 minutes remaining when No 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk dangerously pulled down home lock Cory Hill at a line-out.
That gave the Dragons a chance to gain the advantage again but an attack immediately after the card was knocked-on and the danger cleared by the Italians.
