Worcester 3 – 41 Dragons

At the same time it provided them with some invaluable match practice ahead of their vital Magners League game against Connacht a week on Sunday.

The Dragons took a while to get into their stride but when they did there was no stopping them.

Man-of-the-match was blindside flanker Hoani MacDonald who was involved in just about everything while Aled Brew scored the try of the game, a belting solo effort.

Ex-Newport and Dragons centre Hal Luscombe was a late withdrawal from the Worcester team, but they took the lead after five minutes when outside half Joe Carlisle kicked a 35 yard penalty awarded for offside.

The Dragons started going through the phases, Adam Jones and MacDonald winning line-out possession as well, but a neat run and kick by Carlisle restored the initiative for Worcester, centre Greg King profiting with a strong run.

Carlisle continued to trouble the Dragons with his elusive running while Samoan World Cup player Loki Chrichton also threatened.

But Dragons outside half James Arlidge knocked on badly, though Rhodri Davies ran well as they opened out until they were victims of a dubious refereeing decision.

They made light of it though as MacDonald won another line-out, hooker Steve Jones appeared from nowhere to break through and he found Grant Webb at his elbow for the back row forward to power over for a try which Arlidge failed to convert.

Carlisle missed a penalty shot, but the Dragons finally strung together a really impressive move, half-a-dozen players handling, MacDonald twice involved until he was hauled down just short.

But home No 8 James Collins was yellow carded for coming in from the side while prop Shaun Rowers was injured trying to halt the move.

The Dragons opted for a scrum and immediately moved the ball left where Davies again ran dangerously, MacDonald was in support and Jason Tovey walked the ball over in the corner for a try which Arlidge narrowly failed to convert.

The Dragons were now playing some good rugby and Brew scored an absolute cracker just on half-time when he sped down the touchline and roared inside and over the line, leaving defenders trailing in his wake. This time Arlidge converted.

The Dragons brought Andrew Hall, Dan Lydiate and Lewis Evans on in their pack for the second half and straightaway Lydiate almost made the line on the peel from a line-out.

When that failed they tried again, MacDonald won the ball and prop Hugh Gustafson stormed around the front and over for their fourth try which Arlidge converted well.

Front row pair Duane Goodfield and Nigel Hall also went on along with Rory Sidey, Jamie Ringer and Martyn Thomas, Tovey moving to 10.

But it was another replacement who got try number five when scrum half Alex Walker put the ball into a scrum, picked up at the back and stole away for a try in the corner.

They passed the 30 mark with five minutes left, new half backs Walker and Tovey combining well to send replacement wing Gareth Wyatt racing across in the corner. And there was still time for Wyatt to cross again as the Dragons ended the game in total control, Tovey converting from the touchline.

Worcester Warriors: L Chrichton9 (G Crook 65), C Fellows, O Grove (T Wheatcroft 31), G King (G Crook 36-40, O Frost 74), E Collins, J Carlisle, J Arr (B Jones 53), J Gilding (S Lewis 73), C Fortey (captain, J Page 46), S Ruwers (R Davies 34), D Lyons, R Wood, D Askew (H Boyland 52), J Abbott, J Collins (R Noonan 68).

Scorer -- penalty: J Carlisle.

Newport Gwent Dragons: J Tovey, R Fussell (G Wyatt 40), R Davies (R Sidey 64), A Smith (captain), A Brew (K Morgan 81), J Arlidge (M Thomas 66), W Evans (A Walker 68), H Gustafson (N Hall 60), S Jones (D Goodfield 52), R Thomas (J Corsi 64), A Jones (A Hall 40), S Tomes (D Lydiate 40), H MacDonald (A Jones 68), G Webb (L Evans 40), J Bearman (J Ringer 64).

Scorers -- tries: G Webb, J Tovey, A Brew, H Gustafson, A Walker, G Wyatt (2); conversions: J Arlidge (2), J Tovey.

Referee: Nick Ashton (RFU).