Newport Gwent Dragons 30 Sale Sharks 12

By snaderson
November 16 2015

And so off to Europe—Well, Wales, anyway. snaderson was one of many hardy souls who braved the trip to deepest Newport to watch the start of Sale’s ERCC campaign.

With fourteen changes to the starting fifteen, Dimes seemed to be sending a message about where the priorities for the season lay – and it wasn’t with the European Challenge Cup. On the positive side, it gave us a chance to have a look at a number of players who we don’t see a lot of, a lot of young lads who perhaps will become familiar names in years to come. As it was, they didn’t disgrace themselves, although the inexperience, unfamiliarity and struggles with the weather proved to be too great obstacles for the combined endeavour of Sam, Tom, Tim, Josh, Jon, ‘Jim’ and the rest to overcome.

A cold wind shook us as we left Ye Olde Murenger and crossed the Usk under grey skies. A warming tray of faggots, chips and peas in the clubhouse went down very nicely before we took our seats in the new Bisley stand. The game began in a sombre mood as the teams and the crowd had a minute’s silence, oddly interspersed with a recording of the Marseillaise, to commemorate the dead in Paris. The fact that we had French officials made this a more personal moment.

The first period of the match was dominated by Newport, who made most of the running and took the territory. Their first try came after only 5 minutes and they carved easily through a defence that was perhaps lacking its normal organisation. Momentum swung Sale’s way for the next period and we found ourselves hammering against the Welsh line. First Ostrikov juggled the ball and almost touched down, then Mooj drove the ball from the bottom of the ruck over the line. Monsieur Ruiz referred to the TMO to check and it took an age for him finally to spot that Mooj’s knee had been on the ground when he picked the ball up. No try, penalty to Newport. The camera that had been waiting for our reaction slunk away and we needn’t have checked our hair and debated our best sides for the television after all.

The second Newport try looked at first like a missed tackle from Bedlow but again M Ruiz went to the TMO. It was clear that Bedlow had only missed the tackle because the ball had been thrown about 2m forwards. To our disbelief, the try was awarded. Shortly afterwards the Dragons scored again and the dancing cartoon red squirrels appeared on the big screen to celebrate. It was going to be a long afternoon and we scowled at Rodney the Spotty Dragon, the opposition’s mascot.

The rain was blowing in from time to time, tumbling down, driven on by gusts of wind. Both teams’ kickers were struggling with elements, missing kicks at the posts. Nick Macleod failed to get a couple of penalties to touch as well, and some of our up-and-unders had been rather misjudged. Tim Jeffers was having a good game from fullback, running well, taking high balls and generally kicking well. Viliami Fihaki was full of energy and was making a great impact in carrying the ball from scrums that neither side was dominating.

In the second half, with the sky darkening and more rain lashing down, we started to gain the upper hand and put some respectability the scoreline deficit, which was 17 – 0 at half time. The first Sharks score went to James Mitchell, who took an excellent line through a gap, having received the ball from Macleod, who had zipped through a gap himself. Macleod converted from in front of the posts, spurning Andy Hughes’s offer to hold the ball steady in the gale. Millsy was next on the Sale scoresheet, the rolling maul being as potent a weapon as it normally is. However, Newport kept the scoreboard ticking over with a couple of penalties so the game kept moving away from us. Spilled balls and turnovers were spoiling our possession and we weren’t putting the points on fast enough. Towards the end, it looked as though we had conceded that game and the Dragons pushed on for their bonus point try, which they duly got. A vocal home crowd cheered the end of the match and we trudged off towards the fun bus home.

We got what we deserved from fielding a weakened team. A few players got some first team experience and one would expect a few to be able to build on good performances. The travelling support had had a good weekend all the same, the Pen and Wig being a highlight for me. There had even been a lad in a goldie-looking chain walking out of the first pub when we arrived. Before the game, the locals I spoke to were all talking their chances down but I had said that with the team we had selected, this was perhaps the day for the Dragons to catch fire, and so it came to pass.