MAGNERS LEAGUE Dragons 49 Edinburgh 28:WINGER WILL Harries grabbed a hat-trick as Newport Gwent Dragons produced a top-drawer second-half display yesterday to dent Edinburgh's play-off hopes. The Welshmen went over seven times to keep their slight chances of the title alive.
The fifth-placed Scotsmen were keen to get the win for their play-off chances but seventh-placed Dragons can still make the play-offs after this.
They have also been buoyed by Cardiff’s win over the Scarlets on Saturday that ensured them Heineken Cup rugby next season.
The Dragons went into the break 20-14 ahead. The lead changed hands four times by then after home scrumhalf Wayne Evans’ burst into the corner secured the first try.
Almost straight from the restart, Edinburgh outhalf Phil Godman picked up on a loose ball and fed flanker Alan MacDonald to go over under the posts.
Godman’s conversion put Edinburgh 7-5 ahead, but a blast through the middle from 25 metres out by centre Ashley Smith restored the Dragons’ lead. Evans converted as kicker Jason Tovey was being treated for an injury and then had to go off.
MacDonald was superbly tackled in the corner and Godman nearly scored from the ruck but was wrapped up as he went over the line by flanker Gavin Thomas.
The Dragons’ loosehead prop Hugh Gustafson was sinbinned for dropping the scrum on his line which, moments later, led to referee James Jones awarding a penalty try that gave Edinburgh a 14-12 lead.
Tovey’s replacement, James Arlidge, restored the home advantage with a penalty, and Harries increased it with a good try right on half-time.
Arlidge added another penalty after the break and Harries the other two tries before the hour to complete his hat-trick.
Edinburgh were 21 points behind, but they gave themselves a slender hope as centre Ben Cairns went under the posts, with Godman’s conversion meaning they could draw with two more converted tries.
However, any revival was killed off when wing Richard Fussell grabbed a sixth touchdown and fullback Martyn Thomas scored a spectacular 60-metre effort.
To their credit, Edinburgh got something out of the match when hooker Ross Ford secured their try bonus point.
NEWPORT-GWENT DRAGONS:M Thomas; Harries, Watkins, Smith, Fussell; Tovey, W Evans; Gustafson, Willis, Palmer, Sidoli, Charteris, Bearman, G Thomas, Falatau. Replacements: Riley for Watkins (37), Arlidge for Tovey (16), Walker for W Evans (72), Burns for Willis (63), Castle for Palmer (48), MacDonald for Charteris (51), Coombs for Bearman (44).
EDINBURGH: Thompson; Robertson, Cairns, Houston, Visser; Godman, M Blair; Jacobsen, Ford, G Cross, MacLeod, J Hamilton, MacDonald, Rennie, Callam. Replacements: Traynor for Visser (67), Laidlaw for Blair (73), Kelly for Ford (73), R Grant for Rennie (50), MacKenzie for Callam (60).
Referee: James Jones(WRFU).
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