Newport Gwent Dragons moved up to third place in the Celtic League table ahead of Irish rivals Leinster with a bonus point victory over basement team Borders at Rodney Parade last night.

At the same time the Dragons made virtually certain of Heineken Cup rugby again next season, their lead over fourth placed Welsh team Cardiff Blues, who play Munster at home today, stretched to 19 points, the Blues having five games left to the Dragons' four.

The Dragons had to do it the hard way after they fell nine points behind against battling Borders in as many minutes, outside half Charlie Hore kicking three penalties.

But though the Dragons were without six of their eight Wales squad players plus injured Nathan Brew, they fought back to lead 20-12 at the interval.

And they piled it on after the interval to secure a bonus point, scoring five tries in all, centre Steve Winn getting two and Percy Montgomery kicking 17 points.

The Dragons fell behind in the fourth minute when outside half Charlie Hore landed a 40 yard penalty downwind, but Percy Montgomery missed a fairly comfortable chance to put the sides level two minutes later.

Then Craig Warlow made a slashing break, but Rhys Oakley couldn't hold onto his pass. A missed touch kick and tackle by Montgomery on hooker Ross Ford forced the Dragons to give ground and Hore landed another penalty to double the lead.

The Borders advantage became nine points in as many minutes when Hore landed his third penalty, a sitter from in front when the Dragons backs were caught offside.

The Dragons did manage to reduce the deficit when Montgomery put a penalty over from point blank range when Borders were offside.

And Monty cut the deficit to three points when he landed another penalty from comfortable range after 21 minutes.

But the Dragons had a scare when Borders number eight Kelly Brown broke from a scrum and Jamie Ringer was hard pressed to catch him, needing a timely intervention from Montgomery as well, though at the expense of a knock on in his on 22.

The Borders moved it again, Scottish winger Simon Danielli running strongly and centre Calum MacRae almost putting full back Stuart Moffat in at the corner.

But the Dragons finally got into gear when they scored the first try after 27 minutes. Prop Rhys Thomas made ground with a barging run and he passed on to Jamie Ringer who raced clear down the touchline and around for the try which Monty converted well to put the Dragons ahead for the first time.

Encouraged by that score, the Dragons threatened again when Jason Forster and Steve Winn combined dangerously and Forster was then brought down a yard short.

Borders opposite number Wayne McEntee was yellow carded for killing the ball and the Dragons went close when Tiupulotu ran hard only for Thomas to knock on a difficult pass.

But the Dragons scored from the scrum which followed when scrum half Gareth Baber gave a flat pass to Steve Winn who jinked inside and through two tackles for a try which Montgomery converted for a 20-12 interval lead.

McEntee returned for Borders whose centre Calum MacRae then broke strongly and Danielli carried on until held up just short. The forwards drove on into the 22, but the Dragons defence held firm.

Borders were down to 14 men again after 57 minutes when MacRae was yellow carded for handling in a ruck in front of the posts, Montgomery slotting the resultant penalty.

But Borders came again, Brown running through an attempted Montgomery tackle before Hore kicked his fifth penalty for a line-out offence.

The Dragons retaliated with their third try when Baber and locks Ian Gough and Peter Sidoli all handled to send Winn storming over for his second try which Montgomery converted in style from the touchline.

And they finally got the crowd singing when they achieved their bonus point try when Jonathan Bryant, who had replaced Winn, broke strongly in midfield and handed on to Montgomery who sent Wyatt steaming down the wing and over for a fine try.

The Dragons were in complete charge now and with two minutes left lively Rhys Thomas powered over from a line-out for a try whcih Montgomery converted.

Newport Gwent Dragons: P Montgomery, G Wyatt, S Tiupulotu, S Winn (J Bryant 68), B Breeze, C Warlow, G Baber (J Ireland 72), A Black, J Richards (G Robinson 72), R Thomas, I Gough, P Sidoli (L Charteris 68), J Ringer (M Veater 72), R Oakley, J Forster (captain). Scorers - tries: J Ringer, S Winn (2), G Wyatt, R Thomas; conversions: P Montgomery (4); penalties: Montgomery (3). Borders: S Moffat, S Danielli, C MacRae, G Law, N Walker, C Hore, J Weston, T McGee, R Ford (S Scott 65), B Douglas (captain), M Blair (A Miller 53), C Stewart, J Dalziel, K Brown, W McEntee. Scorers -- tries; conversions: penalties: C Hore (5). Referee: Mr D Courtney (Ireland). Attendance: 4,147.