DRAGONS SLAYED BY SHARKS
DRAGONS 11 SALE SHARKS 38
Hodgson scored the opening try and kicked all the goals as the Dragons’ impressive home record took a battering at the hands of the Guinness Premiership front-runners. The Sharks are two for two in the Heineken Cup, and look a good bet to make the playoffs. They face tough away matches against Munster and Castres Olympique, but director of rugby Philippe Saint Andre is more than happy with nine out of the first 10 points available.
“We had a decent lead at halftime, but we knew we couldn’t rest on out laurels,” Hodgson said. “We managed to put a few things together, and managed to make it look better that it was.
“I thought our forwards were superb tonight. We’re very pleased with the bonus point – especially as we were playing away.”
Captain Jason Robinson added: “We targeted this game. We knew they would come out strongly in the second half – like they did against Castres last weekend – but we’re happy with two out of two.”
Fullback Daniel Larrachea scuffed an early chance at goal, but Hodgson – the hero of last week’s win over Munster – charged down a poor Ceri Sweeney clearance to score the opening try and added the extras via the upright. A man-beating pass from Robinson gave Mark Cueto an easy finish in the corner, and Hodgson’s sideline conversion added a few more questions to the Dragons’ proud home record.
Warlow chipped away at the lead with a second penalty goal, but the Sharks’ third try came from Larrachea, who joined the line at the perfect angle to score untouched. Hodgson added the conversion, and the Dragons night went from bad to miserable when lock Peter Sidoli was yellow-carded for a professional foul.
The match became 15 against 13 shortly after halftime when Dragons flanker Andew Hall was binned for a lineout infringement, but that meant nothing when Gareth Wyatt, the most under-rated winger in Welsh rugby, scored a superb kick-and-chase try. It was a fine try, but completely against the run of play. Hodgson edged his side ahead with a penalty goal after centre Elvis Seveali’i smashed through the Dragons midfield, and the fly-half’s break set up replacement lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe to score the bonus-point try.
Ospreys discard Seveali’i added a fifth and Hodgson completed a fine performance with his fifth conversion.
Dragons: K Morgan; G Wyatt, S Tuipulotu, C Sweeney, B Breeze (R Fussell 50); C Warlow, G Cooper (G Baber 80); D Maddocks (A Black 50), S Jones, R Thomas, I Gough, L Charteris (R Bryan 76), A Hall, J Forster (capt) (J Ringer 65), M Owen
Scorers: Try – G Wyatt; Pens – C Warlow 2
Sale Sharks: D Larrechea (O Ripol 42); M Cueto, M Taylor (R Todd 77), E Seveali’i, J Robinson (capt); C Hodgson, S Martens; A Sheridan, S Bruno (A Titterell 52), S Turner (B Coutts 75), C Jones, D Schofield (I Fernandez Lobbe 56), J White, M Lund, S Chabal (N Bonner-Evans 70)
Scorers: Tries – C Hodgson, M Cueto, D Larrachea, I Fernandez Lobbe, E Seveali’i; Pen – C Hodgson; Cons – C Hodgson 5
Halftime: Sale Sharks 21-6
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
