Dragons wilt as injury strikes again

They looked like winning the game at half-time, leading 22-17 after a rip-roaring 40 minutes and, having scored three tries, heading for a bonus- point victory which would have put them top of the table.

But an already injury-hit side suffered yet another blow eight minutes into the second half when thundering new number eight Nic Fitisemanu went down with a sickening thud after tackling Ulster centre Paddy Wallace.

He was unconscious before he hit the floor and the game was stopped for seven minutes while doctors and medics rushed on to treat the stricken player.

He was carefully carried from the field on a stretcher and taken to hospital where, thankfully, he suffered no more than concussion.

But the Dragons visibly wilted after the loss of a player who had made his presence felt in a big way, charging across for the opening try after a fine move which coach Paul Turner later said could not have been scored last season, and generally troubling Ulster with his bursts.

The Dragons led 25-20 at the time, but Ulster, sensing the Dragons wouldn't have the same impact, quickly took advantage and got right back into the game.

Two more tries settled it to give them a bonus-point victory, the Dragons having to settle for a losing bonus point.

But it wasn't just the loss of Fitisemanu which affected the Dragons, for they made too many errors - 12 according to Turner - while their kicking out of hand was far too wayward as penalties missed touch and promising positions were lost.

For all that, though, the Dragons can take a great deal out of the match. They already look better equipped than last season with more depth, while Fitisemanu and captain-for-the-night Colin Charvis provided them with the hard yards that were so often missing last season.

Ulster were without half a dozen Irish squad members, but they still had key men David Humphreys and Justin Harrison in their ranks and possess a squad which has, in the main, been together for years.

But the Dragons were without players of the calibre of Kevin Morgan, Gareth Cooper, Michael Owen, Luke Charteris, Steve Jones and Paul Emerick.

That's a lot of shoes to fill, but it says much for the Dragons' greater depth that they went so far towards doing just that. Fitisemanu caused havoc, Ben Daly was committed to the cause and, more than anything, Aled Brew was a real dangerman.

He scored two more tries to add to the one he got against Glasgow, the second an absolute belter as the adventurous Mike Hercus and Charvis linked on halfway and Brew put his head back, beat his opposite number on the outside, the full back on the inside, kicked on and regathered the ball to swoop for the touchdown.

Brew also swept over for another after linking with the sturdy number eight and prop Adam Black.

The set pieces were much more stable than last season, with the scrum and line-out going well, Hercus playing some decent rugby and Aled Brew providing the cutting edge.

Ceri Sweeney, playing as if he had a point to prove to some of the doubters, added ten points to the 16 he scored last week, firing over two penalties and two conversions as well as proving typically brave in defence.

But there was never much in it as the lead changed hands four times in a free-flowing game which was a pretty good advert for Celtic rugby.

Excellent combined play put wing Andrew Maxwell over for Ulster's first try, then full back Bryn Cunningham nabbed two, the first ripping through on the inside and the second after good approach work by dangerous centre Paul Steinmetz, before the clincher by replacement prop Declan Fitzpatrick after more snappy handling and another timely intervention by Cunningham.

Humphreys marked his 50th league appearance by kicking two penalties and three conversions.

The Dragons now have a day less than Llanelli Scarlets to prepare for tomorrow's Welsh league derby clash and will be up against it, but they can still take plenty of heart. And significantly it was the best and most vocal support they have received, which was highly encouraging.

Newport Gwent Dragons: C Warlow, G Wyatt, N Brew (S Stewart 28-38), C Sweeney, A Brew, M Hercus, A Walker (G Baber 71), A Black, B Daly (K Crawford 68), R Thomas (L Harrison 65), I Gough, P Sidoli (A Hall 39-40), C Charvis (captain), N Fitisemanu (J Bearman 48), J Ringer.

Scorers - tries: A Brew (2), N Fitisemanu; conversions: C Sweeney (2); penalties: Sweeney (2).

Ulster: B Cunningham, M Bartholomeusz, P Steinmetz, P Wallace (K Maggs 63), A Maxwell, D Humphreys, K Campbell (P Marshall 72), J Fitzpatrick, P Shields (N Brady 77), T Court (D Fitzpatrick 57, Court 85), J Harrison (M McCullough), T Barker, S Ferris, R Wilson, N McMillan (K Dawson 62).

Scorers - tries: B Cunningham (2), A Maxwell, D Fitzpatrick; conversions: D Humphreys (3); penalties: Humphreys (2).

Referee: Mr D Changleng (Scotland).

Attendance: 5,114.

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NEWPORT Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner rued the unforced errors his team made which he believes cost them the game against Ulster, but is convinced things are changing for the better at Rodney Parade.

"We didn't spend enough time in the Ulster 22, we made 12 unforced errors and they killed us off," he said.

"Some of our decisions under pressure were poor, we got a bit tired and they took advantage of our lapses.

"But we're pretty buoyant and we feel we're moving in the right direction. We've got good players here, and the first try we scored we probably couldn't have done last season.

"Mike Hercus was inventive and is a sharp operator, we've added to the go forward with Nic Fitisemanu and Colin Charvis, and Alex Walker again showed he's growing up and playing in big company.

"I also thought the crowd was magnificent, I could hear them in all parts of the ground, but we've got to repay them, as well as tightening up our game around the fringes.

"Ulster knew how to close the game down and win it, but we're changing things here, we've got new players I couldn't bring in last season and we've got a good Academy structure.

"Sides don't relish coming here."

Colin Charvis, who captained the Dragons for the first time, joked: "Maybe they picked me to make sure I'd be around for the full 80 minutes.

"We had a good win against Glasgow, but unfortunately lost against Ulster. Now we've got to look at ourselves and see how we can improve against the Scarlets.

"I'm really glad to be back from Newcastle and I'm going to enjoy every minute of playing for the Dragons. I'm happy to be playing and I'm glad the coaches have shown faith in me. I want to see if I can reach my full potential.

"The players just want to play to the best of their ability. Some of the media may have written us off, but you know the clich about newspapers and wrapping chips!

"The fans are adamant the team can do well and we're appreciative of the support they give us."

Ulster coach Mark McCall paid tribute to the Dragons when he said: "For us to concede 22 points in the first half was disappointing. At half-time the team and the crowd had their tails up.

"They've got Kevin Morgan to come back, he can be like lightning, and Colin Charvis will get even better when he catches up with his fitness.

"When we started getting some decent set-piece ball against them we looked dangerous. I was pleased we shut them down in the second half."