CHRIS Anderson, the former Australia rugby league coach, was given an abrupt initiation to Welsh rugby on his debut in the game as Newport Gwent Dragons suffered a shock defeat at Pandy Park last night.
The scratch Premier Division side scored four tries to two in front of a 2,000 crowd and led 17-0 at half time, an advantage they stretched to 24-0.
The Dragons retaliated with two tries, but despite piling on heavy pressure failed to make their advantage count.
The Premier Division back row of Gavin Lucas, Rhys Jones and Sam Waldron, before he went off with an ankle injury, were outstanding, Matthew Veater led from the front and Gareth Chapman was a lively centre.
Dragons new boys Kevin Morgan, Jon Bryant and Gareth Wyatt had little chance as they were held in check by a resolute defence and the pack surprisingly lacked urgency as well as experiencing problems in the line-out.
The Premier Division roared into an 11th minute lead, Veater winning a line-out and the pack driving it for hooker Andrew Brown to pounce. Seven minutes later they scored again, another well constructed effort.
The whole back row were involved as Lucas broke, handed on to Waldron who transferred to Jones and the No 8 sent winger Scott Horner flying over for a fine try which Mitchell converted.
The Dragons powered back and forced the Premier Division team to defend, but a stray line-out let them off the hook and suddenly they counter attacked with devastating effect.
From the line-out Waldron made ground and Mitchell chipped ahead for full back Andrew McCloughlin to gather and send Ebbw Vale wing Horner racing across for a second try.
Another counter attack produced a third try and the Premier Division side's 17-0 interval lead was thoroughly deserved.
The Premier boys showed their first half performance was no flash in the pan when they quickly grabbed their fourth try, the ball coming out awkwardly at a Dragons scrum and centre Kristian Owen seizing the loose ball to score. Replacement Rob Sweeney converted.
The Dragons finally got on the scoreboard after an hour when heavy pressure resulted in flanker Jamie Ringer skipping out of a tackle to score a try converted by Bryan Shelbourne.
Premier Division scrum half Owen Jones was yellow carded for persistent off side and immediately Wyatt side stepped over for the Dragons second try, Shelbourne converting from the touchline.
After winning the vast majority of their Celtic League games last season and finishing third in the table, the Dragons were brought down with a bump by their semi-professional opponents.
Anderson could hardly have had a tougher or more unexpected introduction into rugby union life in Wales.
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