NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are reaping the benefits of mixing it up as they bid for a strong finish to the Magners League.

The Dragons won their third game on the spin when they beat Edinburgh 30-22 at Rodney Parade on Saturday, scoring four of their five tries in the first half.

Winless Aironi are their next opponents followed by struggling Glasgow, presenting a golden opportunity to pile the pressure on the three Welsh regions above them.

Acting head coach Darren Edwards believes the key to their success will be their ability to hurt the opposition through their improving pack as well as their dangerous backs.

“We had a poor run-in last season and it is all in our hands to have a good one this year,” said Edwards who, along with fellow coach Rob Appleyard, enjoyed two wins in the space of 19 hours after success with Wales Under-20s in Scotland on Friday evening.

“There is a lot of ambition in this squad to make a big dent in the Magners League in the coming weeks.

“Our attacking game is starting to take shape again and we have got a nice blend of game with our pack going well in the scrums and driving lineouts.

“That blend keeps the opposition on their toes and hopefully we can become a real attacking threat that makes teams cover their bases in a number of areas.

“A try from five metres is nice rather than working hard for one from 60 and at times the balance of our play was excellent.

“There is a time to kick, a time to run and a time to be physical.”

One man that relished the physical battle against Edinburgh was blindside flanker Andrew Coombs, who got the reward for an energetic display with his first try at regional level.

He was quick to praise the work of forwards coach Danny Wilson and recognises that numbers 1 to 8 are going to have to earn their corn in Italy at the weekend.

“It will be a big battle against Aironi but I think we are becoming a big force up front,” said the 26-year-old.

“There’s no doubt that we have got some fantastic talent in the backs so we have just got to keep working hard as a pack.

“We are trying to be direct and bust the line on the first go.

“If that doesn’t happen then we have big forwards coming around the corner carrying hard and supporting.

“We’re trying to mix our game up and play off the nine and ten when there is nothing on.”

Coombs is enjoying the battle for starts with his Dragons back row colleagues, who are all under contract for next season bar Joe Bearman.

He said. “It’s easy for me to get excited and find energy because I am covering for Dan Lydiate, one of the best sixes around at the moment.

“I just want to play hard and see what happens when the big boys come back.”