Dragons retain Heineken Cup spot

Newport Gwent Dragons 22 Calvisano 15

Newport Gwent Dragons regained their place in the Heineken Cup via a dramatic play-off victory over Italians Calvisano at Rodney Parade.

The Welsh region were 12 points adrift midway through the second half only for a 20-minute revival to save the hosts, who closed out the match with an injury time try and conversion.

Cardiff lost captain Kevin Morgan with a knee injury after 12 minutes – by which time Calvisano had struck through Roland de Marigny 40-metre penalty.

Ceri Sweeney was high-tackled but recovered enough to level matters with a 20-metre penalty but, showing adventure by running the ball, the Italians hit their hosts with a sucker punch just before half-time as wing Warren Spragg rattled through the limp defence to touchdown in the corner.

Five minutes after the interval scrum-half Paul Griffen raced down the pitch to feed lock Valerio Bernabo who ran in at the corner and de Marigny’s conversion bounced in off the upright.

The Welsh side hit back when the ball was spun across the backs for replacement full-back Aled Thomas to go in at the corner and Sweeney’s superb conversion brought the Dragons to within a try of equalising.

Eventually the Italians cracked and 6ft 10ins second row Luke Charteris dived in at the corner, only for Sweeney to be off-target with his kick.

With the scores level and extra-time looming de Marigny missed a penalty from the touchline before, deep into injury time, American centre Paul Emerick snatched a dramatic match-winning try which Sweeney converted to send the Dragons back into the Heineken Cup.