Dragons opened their European Challenge Cup campaign with a victory over Perpignan at Rodney Parade, although the Welsh side were unable to secure a bonus point in a hard-fought contest.
Four tries but no bonus point
Filo Tiatia's men, who reached the semi-finals last season, crossed for four tries in Newport to get their campaign up and running. However, under this season's revised rules, they needed five tries to earn a try-scoring bonus point, with Perpignan managing two of their own.
Wing Jared Rosser crossed in the fourth minute to give the Welsh hosts a fast start, but Perpignan led at the break after Tristan Tedder converted Jules Coulon’s try.
Second-half turnaround
Jac Lloyd saw his effort disallowed as the TMO punished a block from Tinus de Beer, but the South African made a more positive contribution by converting Aneurin Owen’s show-and-go try after 55 minutes.
Perpignan edged ahead when Posolo Tuilagi scored and Tedder added the extras. However, Dragons dominated the final 15 minutes after De Beer’s penalty put them back in front.
Anzelo Tuitavuki and Fetuli Paea were on the end of superb handling moves and De Beer’s boot added further gloss.
Gloucester draw thriller
Elsewhere, Gloucester battled out an incredible 36-36 draw with European champions Bordeaux. A brace by Will Trenholm was not enough to prevent the English side from just missing out on a famous victim.
George Skivington’s team pushed the French outfit all the way during a pulsating European tie at Kingsholm Stadium. Gloucester held a 24-17 lead at half-time before Trenholm crashed over twice, but a double by Louis Bielle-Biarrey salvaged a share of the spoils for visiting Bordeaux.
Bordeaux made a fast start, with Martin Page-Relo able to open the scoring in the fourth minute, but Arthur Clark produced an instant reply for Gloucester. Efforts by Max Llewellyn and George Barton, either side of Sipili Falatea’s try, earned the hosts a slender seven-point advantage at the break thanks to three successful conversions by Barton.
Pablo Uberti levelled for Bordeaux six minutes into the second period before quick-fire tries by Trenholm had Kingsholm rocking, but Bielle-Biarry levelled in the 62nd minute and despite plenty of territory, neither side could find a winning score.
