DIRECTOR of rugby Lyn Jones believes the pre-season encounter with Nottingham shows that Newport Gwent Dragons are developing a greater depth to their squad.

The Dragons used 32 players in the 48-12 success against the English Championship side at their Ystrad Mynach training base yet didn’t call upon the services of a raft of seasoned campaigners.

They are currently without their Wales internationals Taulupe Faletau, Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan, centre Jack Dixon did not feature after being released from the World Cup training squad, Rynard Landman was an unused replacement and Boris Stankovich, Brok Harris and Sarel Pretorius watched on from the grandstand.

Andrew Coombs, Rhys Buckley and Pat Leach are on comeback trail from injury while first team squad members Geraint Rhys Jones, Dorian Jones, Matthew Pewtner and Ollie Griffiths were not used because of the Singha Premiership 7s.

“In the last 20 minutes (22-year-old) Matthew Screech was the oldest member of our front five, which was pleasing,” said Jones, whose other tight forwards were loosehead Keagan Bale (19), hooker Elliot Dee (21), tighthead Alex Jeffries (20) and lock Joe Davies (19).

“We are planting seeds for tomorrow and seeing young talent come through, a strategy we started two years ago and one that we have to continue.

“We’ve always had a good side at the Dragons but never had strength in depth to be able to compete through the season. That’s what we need to develop and we are getting there.”

The Dragons trailed 12-10 to Nottingham at the break but took the spoils thanks to flanker Nic Cudd, prop Phil Price, back row Nick Crosswell, Bale and full-back Carl Meyer adding to hooker Hugh Gustafson’s first half try.

“I was very pleased,” said Jones, who handed Dragons bows to wing Nick Scott, centre Adam Warren, scrum-half Charlie Davies, tighthead Shaun Knight and number eight Ed Jackson. “It was just as we expected for a friendly and we put some nice rugby together.

“Nottingham were excellent – as with English sides they were big with a good set piece – but there was a good structure to us and there was some accurate play by individuals.”