RugbyRebels

Karma. Northampton aren’t pinged for the world’s least straight ever line, scrum half puts it straight out on the full

Northampton keep out the Dragons close to the line but they are offside. Coles, the second row, is binned. Ref is also going back for a no arms tackle on Sam Davies. 2 yellow cards in the same move - bizarre, and Northampton are down to 13 for a full 10 minutes.

Scrum Dragons, against 7 (with winger packing down), 8 metres from the line

Penalty Dragons at the scrum, Rhodri Williams throws a long loop pass to Tompkins who is instantly wrapped up. Very poor, but another scrum

Northampton loose head warned, scrum stays up and Sam Davies scores a try. Good finish cutting back. Gets the 2, 32-17 after 52 minutes.

Northampton scrum half puts it out on the full again, twice in about 5 minutes

And then he scores a superb try in the corner ! I still don’t think this is safe for the Dragons, given the way the weekend has gone. Northampton’s left winger, Naiyaravoro, is punching holes. I don’t think anyone looks like missing a kick, another touch line conversion and its 32-24. All started from a too long kick from Rhodri Williams when Dragons had the ball on the 10 metre line

Northampton back up to 15, 23 minutes to go

Fairbrother (who has been great at the set piece) and Rhodri Williams both replaced, Dragons line out

Dragons nearly score but had penalty advantage after the maul was pulled down. Northampton on another warning. Ben Carter also on. Good shift from Joe Davies

And Leon Brown barges over after sustained pressure. I think that is 5 tries to 3. TMO though, possible double movement. Looked like momentum to me.

And Leon Brown barges over after sustained pressure. I think that is 5 tries to 3. TMO though, possible double movement. Looked like momentum to me.

Try awarded. 39-24 after an hour !

Blimey, a try for Harrison now. Poor composure from Tompkins and Sam Davies from the drop out and Northampton go through the phases after running the ball back into the 22. Hold on, TMO time again

Try awarded and the ref tells off Elliott Dee ‘it is not soccer’. Conversion missed, 39-29 after 63 minutes

Takeaway has arrived early. 15 to go, Northampton lineout in the 22 but I have to go. Good luck Dragons !

What ??? Dragons 39 Northampton 43 at full time. As Victor Meldrew used to say, I don’t belieeeeeeeeve it.

Here’s hoping that Scarlets win the ugliest scruffiest game ever 3-0 tomorrow.

Action-packed matches sadly both lost at the end. Ospreys poor lineout cost them, as did the harsh second yellow at half time. Dragons generally played well, I think Naiyaravoro made the difference - a real nightmare, always breaking tackles, making yards, Dragons couldn't contain him.

It’s been a strange old weekend for the regions. Cardiff and Newport should have won their games but managed to lose at the death. Have there been some law changes encouraging barbarians style games that I’ve missed?

Son of Mathonwy wrote:Action-packed matches sadly both lost at the end. Ospreys poor lineout cost them, as did the harsh second yellow at half time. Dragons generally played well, I think Naiyaravoro made the difference - a real nightmare, always breaking tackles, making yards, Dragons couldn't contain him.

I thought that the Ospreys looked a much better side than Newcastle, and were picked off. I thought that they looked like scoring and still fancied them for the win up until they gave a penalty away about 3 minutes before the end. Tipuric said that they switched off when ahead which isn’t ideal. They managed to irritate the ref before half time, which definitely cost them. The penalty before the lineout was interesting, Smith was on the floor and rolling away, and I thought that the scum half deliberately tangled up with him. The ref was right there and gave nothing, but obviously got the signal from his touch judge. The second yellow & penalty try was harsh.

I can’t argue re Naiyaravoro. I’m not sure who got man of the match but at times he was close to unstoppable, and drew in defenders every time.

I agree that it was a good performance by the Dragons, but the regions have let themselves down on the whole this weekend.

And what makes it worse is the immediate reaction from so many Welsh club supporters that the regions need to be binned etc etc etc.

Sandydragon wrote:And what makes it worse is the immediate reaction from so many Welsh club supporters that the regions need to be binned etc etc etc.

I’ve just been reading the Wales online comments and wish that I hadn’t. There are a couple of wise heads there but loads of comments along the lines of the regions being a disgrace (ffs), or that there should only be 2 regions.

I think that the Welsh regions are finally getting their act together, notwithstanding the poor crop of results this weekend (so far). All 3 had leads of more than 10 points and should probably all have won. Given how poor they all were a season ago (Scarlets excepted) this season has been a step in the right direction.

All of the regions have some good prospects coming through, and we have some proper talent heading over the bridge, in players like Tomas Francis, Willgriff John & Will Rowlands. There will be some good sides out next season, without the strength in depth worries from playing on the same weekends as the players are away with the Welsh squad. Onwards & upwards.

I really shouldn’t read the comments section on the fail, but like a moth to the flame I often do. It doesn’t really matter what the story is about, the number of clowns is disproportionately high.

Sandydragon wrote:I really shouldn’t read the comments section on the fail, but like a moth to the flame I often do. It doesn’t really matter what the story is about, the number of clowns is disproportionately high.

It’s all too easy, isn’t it ? That said, there are no comments on the Scarlets v Sale game as yet, which is probably for the best. I think I picked a good game to miss !

Sandydragon wrote:I really shouldn’t read the comments section on the fail, but like a moth to the flame I often do. It doesn’t really matter what the story is about, the number of clowns is disproportionately high.

Its not the fail, give idiots the chance to comment on a journalists hard work and sport and they become fuck tards