A WEEK is a long time in Welsh rugby. If this pre-season Rodney Parade warm-up had been played seven days ago the crowd would have been measured in hundreds, if that.

But because the Newport name had finally been included in the title after months of waste and because Tony Brown was back on board, it was normal service resumed.

The crowd was more than 2,000, not bad for the type of game it was, and the team ran out to chants of 'Newport, Newport.'

Even the scoreboard had the home side as Newport, though something will have to be done about the Gwent Dragons branding on the kit, not to mention a few more numbers on the jerseys.

Nonetheless, this was a pretty commendable effort on the new team's debut at Rodney Parade and considering that no fewer than 10 players were missing.

Percy Montgomery, skipper Andy Marinos, Nathan Brew, Steve Winn, Rod Snow, Paul Young, Chris Anthony, Ian Gough, Michael Owen and Rhys Oakley were the absentees.

Blend those in with the talent on show yesterday and the Dragons won't be the weakest Welsh region many are predicting.

Defence was probably their biggest asset. They were under the cosh for long periods, especially in the second half, but confined Harlequins to just two tries.

Both were scored by winger Matt Moore, the first after just four minutes and the second nine minutes from the end.

In between the Dragons tackled tigerishly, Hal Luscombe, Scott Williams and replacement Craig Warlow all bringing off try saving efforts.

But though they didn't manage a try themselves - Lee Jarvis kicked four penalties - Ben Breeze and replacement Rhys Shorney both went close.

The Newport side's problems lay in the set pieces where, fielding two Under-21 players, albeit internationals Rhys Thomas and Luke Charteris, they were up against it in the second half.

Quins got on top in the scrums, where former Newport prop Ceri Jones was prominent, and were also in charge in the line-outs where the Dragons were not as organised as they should have been.

But clearly they've got quite a capture in back row forward Ross Beattie, the Scottish international from Bristol.

Though saying he was disappointed with his own performance, Beattie, tall and a good ball handler, clearly has lots of potential.

Shawn van Rensburg played with plenty of aggression until he went off after 30 minutes with a broken nose while Jason Forster showed all the political shenanigans haven't affected him with a typically robust display.

Better possession and more of a cutting edge will help the Dragons' cause in the immediate future, but so will the return of a number of players.

"I thought we'd win at half-time, but we lost our way in the set pieces," admitted coach Mike Ruddock. "They are a Zurich Premiership team and I thought we were very capable of winning, it was only our turnovers that enabled them to control the game.

"The crowd were magnificent and it was great to hear them cheer the boys."

Newport & Gwent Dragons: R Davies, G Arasa, H Luscombe (R Shorney 65), S Williams, B Breeze, L Jarvis (C Warlow 58), G Baber (R Jones 49, B Shelbourne 72), A Black (D Pattison 58), S Davies (J Richards 70), R Thomas, P Sidoli (M Morgan 72), L Charteris, S van Rensburg (R Williams 30 J Ringer 58), R Beattie, J Forster (captain). Scorers - penalties (4): L Jarvis. Harlequins: S Taumalolo, G Harder, C Bell (A Duffy 22), M Deane (U Monye 22), M Moore, P Burke, S Keogh (B Willis 50), C Jones (J Dawson 50), J Hayter, L Gomez (M Worsley 50), J Evans (B Davison 72), S Miall, P Sanderson (R Winters 50), A Diprose, A Vos Scorers - tries: M Moore (2); conversion: P Burke; penalties: Burke (4).