5 things from Newport Gwent Dragons versus Enisei-STM in the European Challenge Cup

1: Impressive Enisei

Firstly, we should praise the opposition because in past years we’ve been ‘treated’ to Mogliano, Cavalieri Prato and Bucharest Wolves taking on the Dragons in the Challenge Cup, while Timisoara Saracens of Romania are sadly providing little competition in Pool Five this season.

Enisei, who have enjoyed home wins against the Dragons, Worcester, Brive and Newcastle, will never be bracketed with them and are contributing greatly to the second tier tournament.

The boast plenty of international experience and it showed. Their heads didn’t go down when the Dragons built a half-time lead, they played with aggression but also enterprise and they didn’t commit daft offences that we have often seen from such qualifiers.

In livewire full-back Ramil Gaisin, giant wing Denis Simplikevich and Mikheil Gachechiladze, they boasted players of real quality with the trio of 25-year-olds sure to be catching the eye of scouts… sign ‘em up Kingsley!

Let’s not forget that it was 5-5 between the Dragons and Enisei in terms of match points over the two games. The aggregate score was just 52-48 to the Dragons but the Russians scored seven tries to six.

They are providing exactly what the tournament needs from the 19th and 20th teams.

2: Job done, just!

The Dragons had been stressing all week how it was imperative to stay patient rather than chasing the four tries from the off.

They did a good job to build a 13-0 lead at half-time but the third quarter was worrying with Enisei bossing matters and a tad unlucky to only have five points to show for their toil.

It was a relief that the Dragons came on strong in the final quarter to secure a bonus point that at least gives them a shot at glory in Brive, regardless of the score between the Frenchmen and Worcester this evening.

It wasn’t easy and errors meant the scores had to come late but they needed five points and got them against abrasive opponents, so credit where it is due.

3: Keddie’s big impact

Harri Keddie is highly rated by the Dragons management and his teammates but they are doing things just right with the 20-year-old from Llanvaches.

He bossed matters with Wales Under-20s last season but has found things tougher with the big boys where errors are more costly and collisions harder.

But the Dragons have been putting the hours in with Keddie on the training pitch and it is showing on weekends, both with Ebbw Vale and at regional level.

He carried impressively from the off after being called from the bench in the 41st minute and went toe-to-toe with some pretty hefty Enisei forwards.

Keddie’s first score was easy after a dominant five-metre scrum but his second was exceptional, bouncing off defenders after going on the charge in midfield.

Such moments show the potential of the bright prospect and he will continue to make notable cameos as the season progresses, adding to his 10 appearances so far.

4: Crosswell conundrum

Nick Crosswell is a wonderful rugby player who just does the right things at the right time with a minimum of fuss, a typical Kiwi I guess.

Give him a task and he’ll do it to the best of his ability and his versatility means that he can slot in at lock or the back row and put in a good performance.

With Lewis Evans, Ed Jackson, James Thomas and even Ollie Griffiths as options on the blindside, head coach Kingsley Jones has used Crosswell plenty of times in the second row this season and he has done well.

However, he looks like a flanker playing with 4 on his back and the Dragons’ pack certainly looks more balanced and has more oomph with two of Cory Hill, Rynard Landman and Matthew Screech joining forces at lock.

Crosswell is a player you want in your XV but the same can be said for Evans and Jackson. It’s certainly not an easy one for Kingsley Jones and Ceri Jones.

5: The most welcome of returns

I’ll start with a declaration, I’ve had a soft spot for Adam Hughes since he first came through the Dragons academy playing with Bedwas and Newport.

Not only was he clearly an exceptional talent, particularly when featuring in midfield alongside Scott Williams and Pat Leach with the Black and Ambers, but he has always been a grounded, likable and thoroughly decent bloke.

Hughes has really added to the Dragons squad since returning from a spell in England with Bristol and Exeter so it was a huge blow to be without him in the first half of the season.

However, this wasn’t ankle ligament damage or a dislocated shoulder, he was out after suffering from concussion and such a lengthy absence (understandably so) inevitably had the rest of us fearing the worst.

It was great to hear the week before last that Hughes was on the brink of a return, then wonderful to see his name among the 23 and even better watch him back out in the middle and putting himself about.

Fingers crossed he will play a big part in the second half of 2016/17.