FIRST the good news - Newport Gwent Dragons top two tables. They head their pool in both the Heineken Cup and EDF Energy Cup competitions.

Now that really is a first. Top of the Anglo-Welsh and tops in Europe. It may be on the basis of a superior points difference only, but it’s a subject of wonder all the same.

Now for the bad news - it’s backlash time! For there is nothing more certain than the fact that Bath will vent their spleen on the Dragons when they clash at the Recreation Ground in the Heineken Cup on Sunday.

For Bath almost produced the result of the opening Heineken Cup weekend when they went within a whisker of beating European aristocrats Toulouse on their own patch.

As it was, sheer carelessness led to their downfall with the last kick as David Skrela showed nerves of steel to slot a penalty from a tricky position to deny Bath with a desperate 18-16 victory.

They were understandably devastated after throwing away a great opportunity and with it the result of the weekend, an honour which should probably go to Sale for their bonus point win at Clermont.

You can bet your last pound - if you’ve got one left because of the credit crunch - that Bath will come out absolutely firing in their next game to take it out on someone, and that just happens to be the Dragons.

Despite their last minute agony in Toulouse they still scored two tries to nil against the French giants, and they will come out looking to bury the Dragons and with it the memory of that Toulouse setback.

They lead the Guinness Premiership table by three points and they know they’ve got the beating of the side with the best record in Europe, so the Dragons can look out.

I’m certain Bath will go at it full blast from the off, Butch James will probably kick everything after his recent lapses, and they’ll try to achieve a bonus point by half-time before sending on the replacements.

Harsh maybe, but that’s the way it is and the Dragons will have to be on their guard big time. But, one thing is for sure, they will give it their all and play with great spirit.

They’ve always had that quality anyway and, if anything, the unit is probably even tighter this season with the arrival of the estimable Tom Willis and the sudden reappearance of Colin Charvis.

Nothing illustrated the point more than the Glasgow game on Saturday when lock Luke Charteris was as sick as a dog on the pitch after taking pain killers to reduce the effects of the foot injury which had prevented him from training all week, but carried on bravely.

In fact, he produced arguably one of his finest performances, dominating the line-outs and making some bullocking runs and he received a hero’s welcome when he finally left the field ten minutes from the end.

He light-heartedly blamed the media after the game for almost goading him into taking on such a ball winning role and said he could only call to himself if there were gaps in the opposition line.

But there seems to be no reason, given his ‘vital statistics’ why he shouldn’t be a major force every game. So provided he doesn’t fall victim to his foot problem and impresses against Bath, where he also lives, he can stake a claim for a place in Wales’ squad for the autumn internationals which is being announced next Tuesday.

The demise of the Ospreys pack against Leicester won’t have impressed Wales coach Warren Gatland as he saw half his pack demolished by one of the English powerhouses, veteran tight head Julian White wreaking havoc in the scrums while the Ospreys line-out was pretty much obliterated as well.

The Scarlets were also a major disappointment as they threw away a half-time lead and east proved best on the opening Heineken Cup weekend, though it has to be said that Leicester and Harlequins proved rather stronger opposition than Glasgow and Calvisano, demolished by Cardiff Blues.

It’s going to be tougher for them as well with Gloucester at the Millennium Stadium lined up second time around for the Blues, and the Dragons as they pass Gloucester on the Severn Bridge bound for Bath.

The Dragons won’t go down without a fight and they have some confidence in the bank after winning four games in a row.

Has anyone noticed how those demanding the head of coach Paul Turner have gone quiet as three defeats in a row have been followed by four wins on the bounce?

No doubt they’ll rear their heads again if the Dragons suffer some more defeats, forgetting that they now come up against Bath, Gloucester, Wasps, Leinster and Toulouse - all away.

Support is not really what it should be at Rodney Parade given the team’s recent revival and I question whether enough is really being done behind the scenes to attract more.

But better to have 5,000 or so fans inside the ground fully committed, cheering and chanting for the Dragons and really appreciative of their efforts, than snipers who don’t even turn up and have a go at every opportunity.

The resolve of the regulars will be fully tested in the coming weeks with such a daunting schedule, but the players deserve their encouragement after recent efforts to turn things around.