News

Charlie kicked 3 penalties

Newport Gwent Dragons 20 Sale Sharks 9

Friday, November 6th 2009

Sale Sharks plans to make progress in the LV=Cup were severely hampered with a 20-9 defeat in South Wales.

Disaster struck in the second minute when SHAUN CONNOR scored under the posts and he was able to convert his own try with ease. (7-0). sharks hit back straight away and earned a penalty which CHARLIE HODGSON kicked with ease (7-3).

On 8 minutes James Gaskell was penalised for his chellnege on Connor after he had kicked the ball skyward. Connor recovered and took the penalty but he pulled it wide. Sale started to press forward and Dragons gave away a penalty at the ruck 30metres out and CHARLIE HODGSON slotted home his second penalty and passed 50 points for the season. it was also 10/10 from Charlie with his last 10 kicks all hitting the target. Sharks put on more pressure but Abraham was penalised for going over the top at the ruck giving a way a lot of territory as Connor cleared.

There was then a period of aerial ping pong but with ball in hand both sides looked dangerous. Referee Fox was busy on his whistle in the first half hour with 12 penalties awarded (6 for each side).

On 34 minutes Dragons were down to 14 men when Goodfield was yellow carded for a spear tackle on Charlie Hodgson. Hodgson took the penalty and although it had the direction and height the kick went wide (7-6).
Sharks pushed forward but couldn't find their way through the Dragons defence and on the stroke of half time teperes falrd and referee Fox took the safe option by blowing his whistle to end the half and let the tempers cool.

Half Time: Newport Gwent Dragons 7 Sale Sharks 6.

Briggs replaced Schwalger after the break. Dragons were first to score when CONNOR kicked an easy penalty after 44 minutes following indiscipline by Abraham. Dragons hooker Goodfield returned to the field following his ten minutes in the sin bin and at the same time Mathew Tait replaced David Bishop for Sharks.

Handling errors were the order of the day early in the second half with both sides spilling the ball.

55 mins Mathew Tait made a good break and Newport were caught offside. CHARLIE HODGSON kicked the penalty. (10-9)

62 mins Newport went through several phases in the Sharks half and were rewarded when their scrum half DANNY LEE touched down, Adam Greendale converted and Sharks trailed 17-9.
before the restart Dwayne Peel and Kristian Ormsby were introduced as replacements.

Greendale missed a penalty for Dragons and the Sharks were struggling to assert themselves on the game.

Things went from bad to worse for Sale Sharks when Sisa Koyamaibole was sin binned by referee Fox on 70 mins which meant that Sharks would finish the game with 14 men. GREENDALE kicked the resultant penalty and the Dragons lead 20-9.

The rains came down heavily and time was running out for Sharks to rescue the game. The Sharks did finish on the attack but the dragons defence held firm.

Final Score: Newport Gwent Dragons 20 - Sale Sharks 9

Attendance: 4539

Interviewed after the game Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones said, " We didn't turn up as simple as that. The Dragons wanted it more than us and its a major disappointment to lose the game."

Sharks: Nick Macleod, Ben Cohen, David Bishop, Lee Thomas, Marika Vakacegu, Charlie Hodgson, Richard wigglesworth, Eifion Roberts, Mahonri Schwalger, Jack Forster, Dean Schofield, Sean Cox, James Gaskell, Luke Abraham, Carl Fearns

Replacement: Neil Briggs, Rob O'Donnell, Martin Halsall, Kristian Ormsby, Sisa Koyamaibole, Dwayne Peel, Mathew Tait, Oriol Ripol