If the veteran Wales flanker is to hang up his boots at the end of this season, what a way to bow out.
An explosive opening period saw the Dragons fire into a stunning 24-3 lead at Rodney Parade. Tries from Steve Jones, Wayne Evans, Hugh Gustafson and Phil Dollman secured a bonus-point within 20 minutes to set up a second successive home win in four days.
Leinster staged a mini fightback but Adam Black’s second half try clinched victory for the Gwent region.
All eyes were on veteran Charvis following his winning try over the Ospreys in midweek. The 35-year-old had guided the Dragons into next season’s Heineken Cup but there are still question marks over his participation next year.
Meanwhile, Charvis fuelled the speculation over his plans in his programme notes by signing off saying, “Enjoy the game folks…see you next season” (from the commentary box that is). But Charvis produced a storming man-of-the-match performance in a breathless contest.
Fly half Ceri Sweeney also made his final contribution as a replacement in the second half before his summer switch to the Blues while Saracens-bound Michael Owen was sidelined with an elbow injury.
It was a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show for Leinster who had clinched their second celtic title last weekend against the same opposition.
After Paul Turner’s men had finally secured Heineken Cup qualification, there was a feel-good factor buzzing around Rodney Parade. There was no sign of Michael Cheika letting up too with Ireland stars Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Girvan Dempsey looking to impress new national boss Declan Kidney.
But Charvis and his Dragons teammates got off to a perfect start inside three minutes when Steve Jones luckily scored the night’s opening try. Jones fumbled the ball but fortunately it ricocheted off a visiting defender then off Jones’s head and into his arms before he touched down under the posts.
Jason Tovey converted and just three minutes later the Dragons doubled their advantage when Phil Dollman’s run cut Leinster’s defence wide open and his superb offload found the on-rushing Wayne Evans.
Leinster were clearly at sixes and sevens as Charvis signalled his appetite on ten minutes to put Horgan under pressure and force the Ireland wing to boot waywardly into touch.
The Dragons added a third try on 14 minutes when Hugh Gustafson drove over and in between a Jonathan Sexton penalty, the rampaging Dragons’ purple patch continued when Dollman completed an amazing opening quarter in the right corner.
Tovey added the extras before Leinster hit back with 12 unanswered points. Michael Berne’s try on 26 minutes was supported by fullback Girvan Dempsey inside four minutes. But the Dragons held firm for a 24-15 interval lead.
Sexton booted his second penalty in the 51st minute before Adam Black’s clincher. Leinster mustered a late consolation but not even the champions could deny Charvis and co.
Click Here for a Statistical Match Report from the Newport Gwent Dragons v Ulster clash
