Determined Dragons pass character test with flying colours in Bucharest

No eyebrows would have been raised when getting to the Challenge Cup, Pool Three encounter while glancing through the results. On the face of it the scoreline merely shows that the professional Dragons got the job done comfortably against Romanian minnows, but the scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story of an excellent win.

The Dragons’ encounter at Ghencea Stadium, at the rickety ground next to Steaua Bucharest’s rather more salubrious home, was a real test of character and resolve. They had to play in a sub-zero temperature on a sodden pitch against a beefy Bucharest pack that earned a 10-0 lead.

But the visitors didn’t panic and showed plenty of good honest toil to earn a victory that gives them a great chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

The Dragons should record another bonus-point win in the return fixture against the Wolves at Rodney Parade on Friday then a home quarter-final beckons if they beat both Newcastle and Stade Francais while one slip-up could still see them earning one of three best runners-up spots.

Even if the Dragons enjoy a good few weeks against Zebre and Cardiff Blues then it’s unlikely to lead to much in the Guinness Pro12 but the often-maligned Challenge Cup could salvage a disappointing season.

So it was a relief that a clash that had all the hallmarks of a cup upset went the way of the favourites.

It must be stressed that Bucharest are a different beast to the side that in recent years had beaten Agen and pushed Worcester, Newcastle and Brive hard. They have pooled together promising players from a variety of Romanian clubs in order to expose talent to a higher level of competition.

But they were no mugs and were still incredibly strong at the nuts and bolts, giving the Dragons a torrid time at the scrum, challenging in the tight and running hard until the bitter end.

The Wolves fielded six players that had been in the matchday squad for Romania’s autumn win against Canada including fly-half Florin Vlaicu, who had kicked all of the points in the 18-9 win against the Cannucks.

Bucharest certainly looked handy when using their effective pick-and-drive game to exploit a sluggish Dragons start with a well-worked try by Fijian flanker Sean Morrell and five points from the boot of Vlaicu earning a 10-0 lead after quarter of an hour.

But the visitors didn’t panic and slowly worked their way into the game with a pair of penalties by full-back Geraint Rhys Jones settling any nerves.

And the Dragons were in front just before the break when centre Ashley Smith enjoyed a simple finish down the right after incessant pressure on the home line that Bucharest, to their great credit, had defended well.

Jones’ excellent touchline conversion made it 13-10 and it was a case of game over, bonus point secure by the hour.

The Dragons started the second half strongly and reaped the rewards of turning down a shot at goal in favour of going to the corner when hooker Rhys Thomas was at the bottom of a driving lineout.

They repeated the trick on 48 minutes with blindside flanker James Thomas emerging from the pile with the ball and suddenly it was about bagging a bonus point rather than settling for a hard-earned success.

It arrived approaching the final quarter when fly-half Jason Tovey intercepted inside his own half to set the scene for centre Ross Wardle to coolly provide a simple run-in for Andrew Coombs.

The lock scored his second after 67 minutes when stretching over from close range to ensure another patient attack ended with points and round off what was a pleasing, if perishing, afternoon.

The record books will suggest it was a case of European underdogs being brushed aside with ease but the players and those shivering on the sidelines will testify that it was far from a routine 80 minutes.

Bucharest: L Samoa, R Neagu, C Dascalu, F Ionita, I Botezatu, F Vlaicu (captain), F Surugiu, C Pristavita, O Turashvili, S Vasiliu, J Van Heerden, P Neacsu, A Mitu, S Morrell, R Ailenei. Replacements used: A Oancea, M Dico, V Badalicescu, O Ageacai, V Mototolea, G Diaconescu, M Apostol.

Scorers: try – S Morrell; conversion – F Vlaicu; penalty – F Vlaicu

Dragons: R Jones, T Prydie, R Wardle, A Smith, M Pewtner (H Amos 67), J Tovey (D Jones 62), R Rees (J Evans 60), B Harris (P Price 60), R Thomas (E Dee 77), D Way (L Fairbrother 63), C Hill, A Coombs (M Screech 74), J Thomas, N Cudd (J Benjamin 67), L Evans (captain).

Scorers: tries – A Smith, R Thomas, J Thomas, A Coombs (2); conversions – R Jones (3); penalties – R Jones (2)

Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy)

Attendance: 700