Vital win for Jackman but much work to do

THIS WAS a game the Dragons had to win to relieve pressure on head coach Bernard Jackman, but the result was hardly cause for the firework celebration which accompanied the final whistle.

But at least they came out on the right side of the result despite missing out on a bonus point.

Man of the match Ollie Griffiths, Aaron Wainwright and Josh Lewis scored tries with Lewis kicking three conversions and two penalties. Michael Willemse, Bjorn Basson, Godlen Masimla and Yaw Penxe ensured Kings outscored their opponents and secured two losing bonus points.

Jackman said: “I’m frustrated we didn’t kick on when we were 17-0 up. We’re just trying to get some time together as a team and we just got a bit loose and didn’t put the accelerator down.

“They hurt us when we were down to 14 but we just needed a win by hook or by crook to settle everybody down.”

Griffiths added: “We knew it was going to be tough, but we got the result which was important. We conceded some poor tries so there is a lot to work on.”

Dragons turned around 17-10 to the good, but they should have been further clear. The excellent Griffiths popped up with the first try after superb approach work by Jordan Williams and link play from Hallam Amos and debutant Ross Moriarty.

Wainwright added a second when he charged down Masixole Banda’s attempted clearance inside the Kings’ dead-ball area.

Lewis converted both scores and kicked a penalty, but also missed two other shots at goal and when Rhodri Williams was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on, the Kings struck.

Captain Willemse was driven over from a line-out surge and then a neat backline move ended with Basson picking the all up on halfway and searing away to score.

The second half was a dogfight devoid of quality.

An upset looked on the cards when replacement Masimla broke away and Banda converted to level things up.

But Lewis then kicked a penalty and broke away for what was the game’s crucial try following a Rhodri Williams chip ahead. The fly-half improved his own efford for a 10-point lead.

Penxe crossed in the final minute despite two questionable passes that looked forward, but the Dragons managed to hold on.