Flyhalf Josh Lewis scored 17 points as the Dragons beat the Kings 27-22 in Newport on Saturday, writes DYLAN JACK.
While the visitors outscored their opponents by four tries to three, flyhalf Masixole Banda missed three conversions, which proved costly.
Both sides came into this Pro14 match on the back of opening-round defeats, with the Dragons being stunned by Treviso and the Kings well-beaten by Zebre.
The home side took just three minutes to open the scoring when a counter-attack from fullback Jordan Willams was eventually finished off by flank Ollie Griffiths.
The Kings then shot themselves in the foot when Aaron Wainwright charged down a clearance kick from a 5m lineout and dived on the loose ball for the Dragons’ second.
It was a scrappy affair as both sides struggled with their discipline, and Lewis made sure to punish the Kings with a penalty to extend his side’s lead.
The visitors did grow into the game as it went on and received a boost as scrumhalf Rhodri Williams was yellow-carded for an intentional knockdown.
The Kings took full advantage, with captain Michael Willemse going over from the back of a strong driving maul.
Minutes later, debutant Bjorn Basson sprinted in to finish off a fine break from Yaw Penxe and made it a seven-point match at half-time.
The visitors started the second half far better, but were held out by some solid last-ditch tackles from the Dragons. However, they deservedly got a try when a counter-ruck lead to replacement scrumhalf Godlen Masimla sprinting clear to level the scores.
Lewis then knocked over his second penalty for the Dragons to retake the lead, before he chased down an up-and-under from Wainright, taking the ball superbly from the air and scoring under the posts.
The Kings launched a late assault on the Dragons’ line and made it a nervous finish when Penxe found space out wide to score, but the Dragons reclaimed the restart and ultimately, the win.
Dragons – Tries: Ollie Griffiths, Aaron Wainwright, Josh Lewis. Conversions: Lewis (3). Penalties: Lewis (2).
Kings – Tries: Michael Willemse, Bjorn Basson, Godlen Masimla, Yaw Penxe. Conversion: Masixole Banda.
Dragons – 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Dafydd Howells, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Josh Lewis , 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Ollie Griffiths, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Cory Hill (c), 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Leon Brown, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Brok Harris.
Subs: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Brandon Nansen, 20 Huw Taylor, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Arwel Robson, 23 Adam Warren.
Kings – 15 Yaw Penxe, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Harlon Klassen, 12 Berton Klassen, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Masixole Banda, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Martinus Burger, 6 Stephan de Wit, 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Michael Willemse (c), 1 Justin Forwood.
Subs: 16 Alandre van Rooyen, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Lupumlo Mguca, 19 JC Astle, 20 Ruaan Lerm, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Martin du Toit, 23 Ulrich Beyers.
Photo: Pro14/Twitter
