The Dragons ended their 18-match United Rugby Championship losing streak but will be left to rue a golden opportunity squandered as they drew 17-17 with the Sharks in a dramatic encounter played in the horrendous conditions of Storm Amy at Rodney Parade. In agonising fashion, Filo Tiatia’s side came within metres of a first league victory since defeating the Ospreys on the opening day of last season – 378 days earlier – only to knock on near the tryline with the clock deep into the red.
Key moments
8′ – Marvin Orie try from close range, Jean Smith converts (0-7)
16′ – Aaron Wainwright try after Fetuli Paea break, Tinus de Beer converts (7-7)
19′ – Jean Smith penalty goal (7-10)
26′ – Angus O’Brien try after Fetuli Paea break, Tinus de Beer converts (14-10)
38′ – Vincent Tshituka try from close range, Jean Smith converts (14-17)
Half-time: Dragons 14-17 Sharks
44′ – Rio Dyer disallowed try following knock-on in build-up
65′ – Tinus de Beer penalty goal (17-17)
73′ – Chris Coleman yellow card for repeated scrum infringements
84′ – Dragons knock on near Sharks tryline to end dramatic finale
Full-time: Dragons 17-17 Sharks
On a miserable evening in Newport, with driving rain lashing sideways in strong winds and temperatures around 17 degrees, both sides battled the elements and each other in a contest that swung back and forth before ending all square. Yet it was the decision-making in the dying moments that will haunt the Dragons, with fly-half Tinus de Beer standing in the pocket calling for the ball to attempt what would have been a straightforward drop goal from in front of the posts. Instead, the pass went wide, and when the ball was knocked forward in the tackle, the opportunity evaporated before 4,889 spectators.
For the Sharks, relief at escaping with a point will be tempered by frustration at their inability to capitalise on complete scrum dominance – the penalty count at the set-piece reached 6-1 at one stage – and territorial superiority for much of the second half. John Plumtree’s side failed to score after the interval despite their forward power, and now face defending champions Leinster in Dublin next weekend knowing they will need returning Springboks to stand any chance of being competitive.
The Dragons put themselves under immediate pressure, with full-back Angus O’Brien kicking the opening two kick-offs dead to gift the Sharks scrums on halfway. From one of those platforms, scrum-half Rhodri Williams had a clearance charged down, allowing the South Africans to lay siege to the tryline. The hosts held firm initially, with fly-half Jean Smith wasting what appeared an overlap down the left with an awful attempted grubber kick.
However, the Sharks’ territorial dominance told in the eighth minute. After kicking a penalty to the corner, their driving maul proved irresistible. Lock Marvin Orie, the former Osprey, powered over for the opening try, and Smith’s conversion made it 7-0 as the visitors established early control.
O’Brien kicked another restart dead, allowing the Sharks to squeeze the Dragons at the scrum and win a penalty that was kicked to the 22. This time the lineout went awry, offering the hosts an escape they capitalised upon spectacularly. Debutant Tongan centre Fetuli Paea, one of the Dragons’ summer signings, made an initial burst that electrified the home support. The ball was recycled quickly, and when de Beer’s deft hands put Wales international Aaron Wainwright through a gap on the perfect line, the number eight showed impressive pace to race over. De Beer’s conversion levelled the scores at 7-7 after 16 minutes.
The Sharks responded with Smith knocking over a penalty after 19 minutes following Dragons indiscipline at the breakdown, restoring the visitors’ lead at 10-7. Yet the home side were growing in confidence, and Paea’s impact on his debut became the defining feature of the first half. In the 26th minute, he produced another moment of brilliance, powering through from Aneurin Owen’s pass and bouncing off would-be tacklers before unselfishly feeding O’Brien to slide over when he could easily have scored himself. De Beer’s conversion put the Dragons 14-10 ahead, and suddenly belief surged through Rodney Parade.
The Sharks hunted the lead as half-time approached, kicking penalties to the corner to utilise their forward power. That decision paid dividends when, after multiple hard carries close to the line, captain Vincent Tshituka eventually found a weak spot in the Dragons defence. Smith’s conversion put the South Africans 17-14 up at the interval, a lead that reflected their set-piece dominance even if the Dragons had scored the more eye-catching tries.
The Dragons thought they had responded perfectly three minutes into the second half when wing Rio Dyer went over in the corner from Williams’s cross-kick. However, referee Filippo Russo consulted TMO Stefano Roscini, who confirmed a knock-on by prop Wyn Jones in the build-up. The try was chalked off, and the Dragons’ frustration was compounded when Paea was forced off through a wrist injury just before the hour mark, having suffered the blow in a tackle and then enduring another knock in a collision with O’Brien.
Another injury blow followed on 55 minutes when replacement loosehead Rodrigo Martinez suffered a head knock shortly after his introduction, meaning veteran Jones faced a long shift against formidable opposition. The scrum penalties continued to mount against the Welsh side, with the Sharks milking their advantage at every opportunity.
The Dragons defended heroically on 63 minutes when the Sharks’ driving maul threatened to score, not only stopping the drive but winning a penalty to escape from their 22. That effort paid dividends two minutes later when the Sharks jumped offside and de Beer made it 17-17 from the tee. Suddenly, momentum had shifted, and the Dragons sensed an opportunity to end their losing streak.
The contest remained finely balanced as the clock ticked into the 70s, but the Dragons’ scrum issues came back to haunt them. Referee Russo showed Coleman a yellow card on 73 minutes after the eighth scrum penalty against the home side for repeated infringements. Down to 14 men for the final eight minutes, the Dragons faced an uphill battle.
The Sharks kicked successive penalties to the corner, hunting the winning score that their forward dominance seemed to merit. Yet crucially, centre Jurenzo Julius was penalised for clearing out beyond the ruck on the Dragons line, gifting the home side an escape route. It was a mistake that would prove costly as the Dragons worked downfield and launched one final, breathless assault on the Sharks tryline.
With the clock well into the red, the Dragons knew victory was within their grasp. De Beer stood in the pocket, calling for the ball as the forwards carried phase after phase. They worked away from the middle of the field before coming back, countless phases inching them closer. De Beer remained positioned for the drop goal that would have sparked wild celebrations, yet the call was never made – or he didn’t shout loud enough for it to be heard above the deafening home roar.
Instead, Williams spread the ball wide and O’Brien went agonisingly close to the tryline. Surely now? No. When the ball was recycled, replacement tighthead Hunt – back on the field with Coleman in the sin-bin – knocked on in the tackle. The opportunity had gone, and with it the Dragons’ best chance of ending their winless run.
Post-match, Wales scrum-half Williams was distraught: “We’re absolutely gutted, it was one that got away. We thought we were going to snatch it at the end. We’ve got to take those opportunities, I am so disappointed. The boys dug in right until the end and I am absolutely gutted that we didn’t finish the job off. It’s up to us half-backs to control it and the forwards were doing well, it just didn’t come off. There wasn’t much pressure on the ball and we were making yards. If we had scored in the corner then nobody would be talking about a drop goal, so you can’t look at outcomes too much.”
Tiatia was diplomatic in his assessment: “You could see that Tinus was ready to go and was in the pocket. I really trust the players to make decisions on the field and it just didn’t go to his hands. We got to the edge, got momentum and put them under the pump. I felt there were a couple of advantage opportunities but the man in the middle and touch judge didn’t see it like that.”
For the Sharks, Plumtree expressed frustration at not finishing the job: “The conditions last night were horrible for both teams. It was always going to be a battle between the forward packs, the kicking game and who managed to take their opportunities. We’re a bit disappointed with the result because I felt we had scrum dominance. We were able to relieve pressure through our scrum and also create pressure, but we didn’t really get the rewards for that, which was frustrating. I was proud of the boys for the way they held on defensively at the end under pressure. But, yeah, disappointed that we conceded one or two soft tries. All in all, I’m proud of the effort and the fight from the group, but we feel a little bit let down that we didn’t finish the job.”
The statistics told the story of contrasting strengths. The Sharks’ scrum dominance was overwhelming, with a penalty count that at one stage reached 11-3 in their favour. Yet they failed to convert that superiority into points after the interval, managing just 93 carries to the Dragons’ 71 but crucially conceding two soft tries that kept the home side in contention throughout.
Paea’s debut, though curtailed by injury, showcased the quality of the Dragons’ summer recruitment. His two direct involvements in tries demonstrated the impact he can bring when fit. Wainwright was named Man of the Match for standing up to the physical battle and scoring a crucial try, whilst de Beer’s composure from the tee kept the Dragons in contention.
The Dragons’ wait for a URC victory now extends to 19 matches without a win, though this draw represents progress of sorts after 18 consecutive defeats. They have three more opportunities to secure that elusive victory in the first block of the season – a tough trip to Glasgow followed by home derbies against Cardiff and Ospreys. The pressure will be immense, particularly with the memory of this missed opportunity fresh in the mind.
For the Sharks, the result represented two points dropped rather than one gained. Their inability to score in the second half despite overwhelming scrum dominance and territorial control will concern Plumtree as they prepare for the daunting trip to face Leinster. The return of Springbok internationals cannot come soon enough if they are to be competitive against the defending champions.
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (co-capt); Rio Dyer, Fetuli Paea (Harri Ackerman 50), Aneurin Owen, Fine Inisi (Rob Hunt 74); Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams; Wyn Jones (Rodrigo Martinez 49-55), Brodie Coghlan (Oli Burrows 62), Rob Hunt (Chris Coleman 49); Matthew Screech (Levi Douglas 55), Ben Carter (co-capt), Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes (Harrison Keddie 55), Aaron Wainwright
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Edwill van der Merwe; Phikolomzi Sobahle (Hakeem Kunene 67), Jurenzo Julius, Lukhanyo Am (Francois Venter 67), Christie Grobbelaar; Jean Smith, Jaden Hendrikse; Simphiwe Matanzima (Cameron Dawson 70), Fez Mbatha (Eduan Swart 71), Ruan Dreyer (Cebo Dlamini 70); Deon Slabbert, Marvin Orie; Phepsi Buthelezi, Emmanuel Tshituka (Nick Hatton 72), Vincent Tshituka (capt)
Referee: Filippo Russo (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse, Lucas Yendle (WRU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
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