Dragons kick-start their season

 

Wales has proved an unhappy hunting ground for Treviso, who have suffered defeats to Ospreys and Scarlets already this term.

 

And the bottom club fell behind on four minutes at Rodney Parade, as Jason Tovey's penalty sailed between the posts.

 

On 11 minutes Amos intercepted a pass to open his account for the afternoon, with Tovey again on the money.

 

And the flyhalf then set up Amos to dive over the line under heavy pressure five minutes later, before successfully kicking his side 17-0 up inside a rip-roaring opening 18 minutes.

 

Treviso finally got on the board off the boot of Joe Carlisle, while at the other end Tovey saw his own penalty attempt sale wide shortly before the interval.

 

Ashley Smith's stupendous score two minutes into the second half ensured the Dragons would remain in top gear, but Tovey missed the chance to rub salt in the wounds, seeing his conversion come back off the post.

 

Jonathan Evans quickly crossed again to get the bonus point in the bag, but Tovey had left his kicking boots behind in the dressing room and once again missed off the tee.

 

Matthew Luamanu crossed for Treviso on 52 minutes, though his try was only awarded after consultation with the TMO. Carlisle missed his conversion.

 

The visitors capitalised on their numerical advantage to reduce the deficit further, seven minutes after Andrew Powell was sent to the sin bin.

 

Replacement Leo Auva'a bagged a try, which Carlisle this time successfully converted.

 

But any hopes of a unlikely late comeback were quickly extinguished as Tovey's penalty on 61 minutes saw momentum shift back towards the home side.

 

And the No.10 struck his third penalty of the match with the final kick of the game to finally bring some cheer to south Wales for Kingsley Jones' men.

 

 

Tries: Amos 2, Smith, Evans

Cons: Tovey 2

Pens: Tovey 3

 

Tries: Luamanu, Auva'a

Con: Carlisle

Pen: Carlisle

 

 

Dragons: 15 Lee Byrne (captain), 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Ben John , 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 Andy Powell, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Cory Hill, 3 Dan Way, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Boris Stankovich.

Replacements: 16 T. Rhys Thomas, 17 Hugh Gustafson, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 James Thomas, 20 Lewis Evans, 21 Luc Jones, 22 Angus O'Brien, 23 Aled Brew.

 

Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 James Ambrosini, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Marco Lazzaroni, 6 Simone Favaro, 5 Marco Fuser, 4 Antonio Pavanello (captain), 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Zanusso.

Replacements: 16 Amar Kudin, 17 Matteo Muccignat, 18 Romulo Acosta, 19 Giovanni Maistri, 20 Leo Auva'a, 21 Francesco Minto, 22 Alberto Sgarbi, 23 Edoardo Gori.

 

Referee: Andrew McMenemy