Dragons 27 Kings 22: Nervy win ends PRO14 drought

Tries by openside Ollie Griffiths, blindside Aaron Wainwright and fly-half Josh Lewis earned a first league victory since the South Africans visited Newport on September 30 last year.

Yet it was needlessly uncomfortable for the Dragons after they raced into a 17-0 lead; if it was a result to keep the critics quiet then the performance won’t have.

The hosts were outscored by four tries to three and still have plenty of work to do ahead of next week’s trip to Dublin to face the champions Leinster.

They mixed moments of magic with large spells of shoddiness, they were defensively fragile and they wasted numerous trips to the 22.

Nonetheless, a victory was just the tonic and the hope is that it will settle the Rodney Parade region down after the misery of 2017/18.

The 17th game of that streak without a success had heaped the pressure on head coach Bernard Jackman, who spent much of last season stating that it was all about 2018/19.

The performance against Benetton at Rodney Parade on opening night was so error-strewn and ragged that there was no margin for error against the Kings, the worst side in the PRO14.

Thankfully the Dragons triumphed but the heat is still on them – they now need to show spirit in Leinster next weekend and then notch another success against Zebre in round four.

Just like last week, the Dragons made a terrific start to lead 7-0.

Whereas against Benetton it was an interception that provided the points, this time it was a thrilling attack prompted by a counter from full-back Jordan Williams after four minutes.

He went from inside his own half and then involvements from wing Hallam Amos, number eight Ross Moriarty and blindside Aaron Wainwright led to openside Ollie Griffiths powering over after a strong hand-off.

Josh Lewis added the conversion but then pulled a long-range effort in the 11th minute as the hosts attempted to stretch their lead from the tee rather than go for the corner.

After 13 minutes they opted to try a driving lineout and it resulted in a try, although not in the manner they planned.

An overthrown turned over possession but Kings fly-half Masixole Banda was charged down by Wainwright, who won the race to the loose ball.

Lewis converted for 14-0 and the Dragons were breathing more easily; at this stage five points looked a formality if they kept thing simple and stayed patient.

The Kings were manic but loose and their indiscipline enabled the home fly-half to make it 17-0 with the wind at his back.

Yet the Dragons then had a sloppy few minutes that cost them – they had one lucky escape when the ball went loose after a burst by number eight Andisa Ntsila and then another bust through midfield led to a yellow card for scrum-half Rhodri Williams after a deliberate knock-on.

The Kings went to the corner and the Dragons shipped another driving lineout try, hooker Michael Willemse adding to those scored in pre-season and by Benetton.

Suddenly the hosts were nervy and the visitors were rampant and it was 17-10 with 32 gone after a rapid attack against a narrow defence that saw wing Bjorn Basson race clear down the left.

A manic half ended with the Dragons on the front foot and the TMO was called for after they piled the pressure on the line before tighthead Leon Brown reached over.

Alas, the Wales international lost control of the ball and the South Africans escaped, as they did from the final play when centre Tyler Morgan was dragged down just yards from the line and the visitors turned the ball over.

The second half started down the same end and it took a magnificent tackle by centre Jack Dixon to save the day as wing Michael Makase attempted the slide in down the right.

The Dragons were creaking and the Kings were scenting a first away triumph.

Jackman’s side wasted more opportunities to add to their 17 points and they paid for it with another moment of sloppiness.

Rhodri Williams mystifyingly took an age as the breakdown with the ball and is feet and a counter-ruck led to a turnover and a run-in for Godlen Masimla.

The conversion from Masixole Banda levelled the scores and the natives were restless as the game moved into the final quarter.

On came former Wales and Lions hooker Richard Hibbard for a scrum and the Dragons won a scrum penalty that Lewis knocked over for 20-17 with 18 minutes remaining.

The game was still in the balance but the home supporters were breathing a sigh of relief with 12 minutes left after a rather fortunate third try.

A Rhodri Williams box-kick was misjudged by the Kings back three – did it hold up in the wind? – and Lewis ran onto the ball before outpacing the cover.

He added the extras for 27-17 and the Dragons had a lead that they simply had to hold onto.

Yet back came the Kings and they laid siege to the line when the clock ticked into the 70s, looking dangerous with ball in hand.

However, the Dragons bench had provided some impact with Hibbard notably making some key interventions to protect the lead.

But there was still time for the Kings to score their fourth with impressive full-back Yaw Penxe going over from a long pass.

There was still time for the restart but the Dragons gathered before Tavis Knoyle booted the ball into the Bisley Stand.

Cue sighs of relief rather than the popping of corks.

Dragons: J Williams, D Howells (A Warren 71), T Morgan, J Dixon, H Amos, J Lewis (A Robson 71), R Williams (T Knoyle 68), B Harris (R Bevington 47), E Dee (R Hibbard 61), L Brown (L Fairbrother 50), M Screech (B Nansen 47), C Hill, A Wainwright, O Griffiths (H Taylor 75), R Moriarty.

Scorers: tries – O Griffiths, A Wainwright, J Lewis; conversions – J Lewis (3); penalties – J Lewis (2) Kings: Y Penxe, M Makase (U Beyers 50), H Klassen, B Klassen, B Basson, M Banda, R van Rooyen (G Masimla 50), J Forwood (S Ferreira ), M Willemse (captain, A Van Rooyen ), L Pupuma (L Mguca ), S Oelofse, B De Wee, S De Wit, M Burger, A Ntsila.

Scorers: tries – M Willemse, B Basson, G Masimla, Y Penxe; conversion – M Banda

Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)

Attendance: 4,012