Six-try Perpignan add to Dragons’ miserable run

European Challenge Cup

Perpignan (17) 41

Tries: Hall, Diaby, Joseph, Chinarro, penalty try, le Corvec Cons: Kretchmann 3 Pen: Kretchmann

Dragons (0) 17

Perpignan eased to a bonus-point win against fellow league strugglers Dragons in their European Challenge Cup opener.

Both sides went into the contest on miserable runs of form, but the French Top 14 side ended an 11-game losing streak at Dragons’ expense.

Despite an early red card, the hosts led at half-time with tries from James Hall and Mahamadou Diaby.

Jefferson Joseph and Bastien Chinarro added to a second half onslaught, while Dragons showed some fight with scores from Joe Westwood and Will Austin.

Dragons made a bright enough start, but squandered a try-scoring opportunity when hooker Sam Scarfe failed to tap the ball before taking a penalty two metres out.

Instead Perpignan drew first blood, charging down a poor clearance before sending the ball out wide to flying Fijian Tavite Veredamu, who passed inside for Hall to touch down.

But the hosts were dealt a blow when centre Duncan Paia’aua was shown a 20 minute red card for a dangerous high tackle on Scarfe, who was forced to leave the field just 15 minutes into his first professional start.

Sloppy Dragons failed to capitalise on numerical advantage while Perpignan looked much more threatening in attack and crossed for a second try, courtesy of a charging Diaby.

Dragons continued to chip away after the break and when another try scoring opportunity presented itself on 50 minutes, Rhodri Williams fumbled at the breakdown, allowing Joseph to run a length-of-the-field try.

The visitors responded five minutes later, a solid line-out allowing replacement hooker Austin time to wrap around and pick out a perfect pass for Westwood.

But they were pegged back when Chinarro broke through the middle of a five metre line-out to score his side’s bonus-point try.

Austin then turned provider to try scorer, catching an overthrown Perpignan line-out to dive over for his first in Dragons’ colours.

Perpignan’s forward pack then got in the action and were awarded a penalty try 10 minutes from time, with returning Wales international Ben Carter shown a yellow card for collapsing the maul.

With gaps opening up, the dangerous Joseph made another stunning break from inside his own half before some neat hands found le Corvec who touched down for the try of the afternoon.

Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said:

“We played a good Perpignan side today, they won most of the collisions, they created pressure, but also we need to be better around doing the basics well and keeping hold of the ball, things like that.

“We got a couple of tries at the end there, but we were chasing the game.

Perpignan: Petaia; Veredamu, Duguivalu, Paia’aua, Joseph; Kretchmann, Hall; Tetrashvili, Malolo, Roelofse, Le Corvec, Chinarro, Diaby, Ritchie (capt), Dvali.

Replacements: Montgaillard, Devaux, Fakatika, Lagvilava, Van Tonder, Aprasidze, Poulet, Fahy.

Dragons: C Evans; Inisi, Richards, Westwood, Dyer; O’Brien, R Williams; Martinez, Scarfe, Yendle, Screech, Carter (captain), Lewis-Hughes, Young, Martin.

Replacements: Austin, Kelleher-Griffiths, Hunt, Langton-Cryer, Keddie, Hope, De Beer, E Rosser.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

Assistant referees: Riccardo Angelucci & Luca Bisetto (Italy)

TMO: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy)

Red card: Duncan Paia’aua (15)