NEWPORT Gwent Dragons returned to winning ways with a 26-8 success against Treviso at Rodney Parade. Here are five things we learned from the Guinness PRO12 encounter…

1: Job done

Sure, five points would have been nice against a Treviso side who haven’t won away from home in the league since December, 2014 but the Dragons are not in a position to be picky.

In testing conditions it was about securing the spoils to go back above Edinburgh into ninth in the PRO12 ‘mini league’.

After going behind to a frustratingly sloppy score the Dragons recovered to defend their line well at the end of the first half and then inch clear after the break.

They headed into the game after three pointless games in the PRO12, so this gives them something to build on when returning to the league after European and Anglo-Welsh action.

2: Sloppy opening

The Dragons actually started strongly in the opening minutes but fell away after Angus O’Brien’s early penalty.

The error count was high with too many split balls stalling momentum. The first half saw them enter Treviso’s 22 six times by my reckoning with just two scores, the early three-pointer and Sarel Pretorius’ well-taken try.

Had they been a little sharper against resolute visitors then perhaps they could have entertained thoughts of pressing for a first four-try bonus point win in the PRO12 since beating Leinster in April 2015.

South Wales Argus:

3: Grunt up front

Treviso had a hefty pack featuring seven Italy internationals plus Kiwi Dean Budd but the Dragons stood firm with tighthead Brok Harris having a stormer and lock Cory Hill getting through plenty of work.

The pack put in a strong display against the Ospreys and while they didn’t quite enjoy the same lineout dominance, they did barge their way over from a driving lineout for the key score.

Enisei had the nudge on them in Russia so they know that they must maintain high standards, even if there are some personnel changes…

4: Time to freshen up?

After being hammered in Krasnodar there is no danger of the Dragons taking Enisei lightly but it has been a hectic schedule of late.

Two bruising derbies and a five-day turnaround to Treviso has pushed them hard with light training a necessity.

Now they have a week to prepare for the Russians then eight days until taking on Brive in potentially a winner-takes-all clash in France.

It’s up front where the main quandaries lie with the back row of Lewis Evans, Ollie Griffiths and Ed Jackson having started the last three along with lock Cory Hill.

Do the likes of Harri Keddie, Nic Cudd, James Benjamin and James Thomas come into the mix? Should Rynard Landman start after two cameos from the bench?

Welcome dilemmas.

5: Super Sarel

Pretorius was on media duty in midweek and said that he believes he has become a better all-round scrum-half thanks to his move to Wales from South Africa.

The former Cheetahs man certainly backed up those words with an excellent display in tricky conditions.

He operated slickly at the breakdown despite the greasy ball and his pick-up for his try in the first half was majestic.

Pretorius controlled things nicely, was a calming influence for Angus O’Brien, a threat when sniping and on the whole kicked pretty well when required.

The only blot on his copybook was a daft, and deserved, yellow card for slapping the ball down to stop when blocking opposite number Tito Tebaldi’s pass from a scrum inside the 22 that meant he played 70 rather than the full 80 minutes.

Tavis Knoyle has done well since arriving from Cardiff Blues and has been handed the 9 jersey more times than not. That Pretorius has not sulked and has taken to the task of being a supersub when required speaks volumes for the man, but he has shown he can be a starter as well as a finisher.