Dragons keep up heat on Ulster

Newport Gwent Dragons 54 Borders 10

Newport Gwent Dragons kept themselves on course for the Celtic League title tonight by recording an emphatic success against rock-bottom Borders.

The Dragons’ eight-try victory, complete with bonus point, means they could be crowned champions if they beat Leinster in Dublin next Friday night.

Mike Ruddock’s men still require championship rivals Llanelli Scarlets or Ulster – who meet at Stradey Park in seven days’ time – to drop points, but they remain strong contenders.

The Borders’ 17th defeat of a miserable Celtic League campaign was sealed by early Dragons tries from scrum-half Gareth Baber and lock Peter Sidoli, leaving them to face nothing more than a damage-limitation exercise.

Scotland international scrum-half Chris Cusiter created Borders’ best moments and was a threat throughout, but the Dragons had too much pace and power to be seriously troubled.

Dragons coach Ruddock, the new Wales supremo, enjoyed a winning Rodney Parade send-off as his team easily preserved their 100% home league record this season.

In the process, they posted their first half-century of the campaign, scoring 35 points in the second half, while centre Percy Montgomery kicked seven of his eight conversion attempts.

Borders full-back Gareth Morton put his side on the scoreboard with a 29th-minute penalty but the Dragons added their third try before the break when Sione Tuipulotu scampered over in the corner and Montgomery converted.

The Dragons clinched an all-important bonus point within four minutes of the restart when brilliant handling work by Montgomery and flanker Jason Forster created the space for fly-half Craig Warlow to slice through and score.

Just four minutes later, the Dragons were at it again as Montgomery’s pass allowed substitute wing Ben Breeze to touch down wide out.

Montgomery continued to land touchline conversions as if for fun, but Breeze was undone when his fellow replacement, highly-rated lock Luke Charteris claimed a cracking solo try.

Charteris, with his first touch of the ball, showed a neat turn of speed to break through the Borders defence and take the Dragons to within sight of 50 points.

Substitute Rhys Oakley claimed the Dragons’ eighth touchdown, again converted by Montgomery, although the Borders had the final say after their number eight Semo Sititi was sin-binned for a late tackle when flanker Kelly Brown grabbed a well-worked consolation effort that Morton improved.