Dragons crash and burn
Benetton Treviso beat Newport Gwent Dragons 24-22 to record their first Heineken Cup victory of the season.
By Phil Jackson
Last Updated: 15/12/07 7:19pm
Benetton Treviso beat Newport Gwent Dragons 24-22 to record their first Heineken Cup victory of the season.
The Italian champions had been turned over 35-33 at the Stade Comunale di Monigo against the same opposition last time out and it was another tight one at Rodney Parade.
Captain Marius Goosen's last-minute penalty ensured the points would be going back to Italy though and the centre kicked 14 points in the match.
Nicolas De Gregori (19) and Dion Kingi (57) scored the visitors' tries as the Dragons were knocked out of the competition.
Drama
South African Goosen's penalty gave Treviso an early lead and prop De Gregori then dived over for the game's first try after a line-out and a ruck on the Newport line.
The Welsh region hit back through skipper Colin Charvis on the half-hour mark though after De Gregori had been sin-binned for illegal use of the boot.
Ceri Sweeney kicked the extras and Treviso's lead was reduced to 8-7 at the interval.
Flanker Joe Bearman picked up and drove over from a close scrum to give the Dragons the lead soon after the restart, as Sweeney again converted. But Goosen soon countered with a second penalty to reduce Newport's lead to 14-11.
Dragons prop Adam Black was sin-binned for holding down at a ruck just before the hour mark though and moments later number eight Dion Kingi raced through a gap from 15 metres out to put Treviso back in front.
Rhys Thomas' try 10 minutes from time put Newport 19-18 up though and Sweeney had looked to have sealed the win with a drop goal from 30 metres out in the dying minutes.
But Goosen's third and fourth penalty successes helped the Italians gain revenge for their home defeat and sent the Dragons crashing out of Europe.
