AFTER going one better in the capital of Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons' sevens squad are now setting their sights on repeating the trick in the capital of England.

The Rodney Parade side qualified for finals night of the Singha Premiership 7s for the second year on the bounce but this time they head to the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, August 28 as Welsh winners rather than runners-up.

The Dragons sneaked above the Scarlets to claim top spot on points difference at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, righting a few wrongs from 2014.

Last year they were denied at the death by a controversial penalty try that allowed the hosts to salvage a draw.

Seven members of that squad returned for this year's tournament and one of them, Newport speedster Elliot Frewen, was the best player on display in Cardiff.

Captain Geraint Rhys Jones is hopeful that they can keep building to improve on last year when they beat Newcastle and Harlequins before being edged out by a classy Gloucester side.

"We only had two days together but we had some older boys like myself with some sevens experience and we were able to help the younger ones buy into the way that we want to play," said captain Geraint Rhys Jones.

"The whole team got better (as the tournament progressed) and hopefully we can take that into the finals night and go even better.

"There will be some strong English teams but we've got a good squad and hopefully we can gel more as a team and go into the finals night firing."

The Dragons had to do things the hard way after suffering an opening game disappointment against the Scarlets.

In fact, were it not for a last-gasp Lloyd Williams score that stole the spoils for the Ospreys in the west Wales derby then coach Nick Wakley's charges would have only been playing for second place in their finale.

They looked slightly sluggish in their opener but looked set to emerge with a 19-19 draw thanks to tries by Frewen, Ollie Griffiths and Dorian Jones.

However, Will Thomas scored at the death to leave the Dragons will little margin for error in their clash with the Ospreys.

Thankfully they hit their straps to enjoy a thumping 31-14 victory with Wales Under-20s wing Lloyd Lewis (2), Frewen (2) and Dorian Jones going over.

The Dragons still had work to do to secure qualification and the Ospreys' late effort meant that they also had the carrot of the Welsh title.

It was never in doubt against a Cardiff Blues side hit by injury. Ebbw Vale's Luke Crocker, Frewen (2), Newport's Jonny Lewis and Wales Under-18s fly-half Arwel Robson secured the spoils.

"We were caught cold in the first game but played some really good sevens," said Wakley. "We were brutal at the kick-offs and putting a side that have just conceded points back into their defensive sets is ideal.

"It will be a nice challenge against the English teams because they play more of a physical offloading brand of sevens with some big fellas.

"It's nice to plan for that... I might even have to subscribe to BT Sport to watch the English legs."

Newport Gwent Dragons: Geraint Rhys Jones (captain), Matthew Pewtner, Dorian Jones, Harri Keddie, Ollie Griffiths, Luke Crocker, Owen Williams, Elliot Frewen, Owen Davies, Arwel Robson, Lloyd Lewis, Jonny Lewis.

Welsh leg results: Cardiff Blues 24 Ospreys 33, Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Scarlets 24, Newport Gwent Dragons 31 Ospreys 14, Cardiff Blues 5 Scarlets 26, Ospreys 17 Scarlets 12, Cardiff Blues 31 Newport Gwent Dragons 19

Attendance: 3,558

English fixtures: Thursday – Gloucester, Exeter, London Irish, Bath at Kingsholm ; Friday – Wasps, Saracens, Northampton, Harlequins in Coventry; Saturday – Newcastle, Leicester, Sale and Worcester at Kingston Park.