Cipriani the star in 11-try feast for the Shed

IT RAINED tries at Kingsholm, but both sides declared themselves happy with their final warm-up.

Gloucester scored six tries to the Dragons’ five in an entertaining game played out in front of an impressive crowd of 9,790.

All the focus was on Danny Cipriani’s Cherry & Whites debut and while he played only a half, there were some silky touches from the controversial England man.

Gloucester host Northampton in their Premiership opener and, on this evidence, they will give Saints a hard time.

Gloucester hooker and try scorer Franco Marais said: “To have nearly 10,000 people come for a friendly match shows how big this club is. The vibrancy of the Shed lived up to its reputation. We need to use that to our advantage this year.”

Dragons moved ahead through an early Jordan Williams try, but sublime hands from Cipriani sent Matt Banahan over. Jason Woodward and James Hanson added further home scores either side of a Dragons try from Josh Lewis.

Dragons lost the game in ten minutes either side of half time. They conceded scores to Marais and Mariano Galarza plus a penalty try. All three came from powerful home shoves.

The Dragons kept pushing as Gavin Henson made an impressive cameo as a replacement. Dafydd Howells, Tiaan Loots and Rhodri Williams all crossed for the Welsh side late on.