Photo via BBC Sport

Four-try Dragons beat Perpignan - but without bonus

The Newport Dragons kicked off their Challenge Cup campaign with a hard-fought 29-14 victory over Perpignan at Rodney Parade, securing a narrow win despite falling short of a bonus point under the updated scoring rules. The Dragons’ backline shone with four tries, including contributions from Jared Rosser, Aneurin Owen, Anzelo Tuitavuki, and Fetuli Paea, who marked his debut with a late score.

Perpignan, however, dominated possession and territory in the first half, taking a 7-5 lead through a try from Jules Coulon, converted by Tristan Tedder. The French side’s dominance in set pieces and territorial control made their two-try advantage feel more significant, though Dragons’ late tries—particularly Tuitavuki’s and Paea’s—flipped the momentum in their favor.

Despite the win, Dragons needed five tries to earn a bonus point, a rule adjustment that added pressure to their scoring efforts. Perpignan, still searching for an away win this season, showed resilience but ultimately fell just short against a determined Dragons side.

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