Tovey stars as Dragons roar

Jason Tovey and Colin Charvis were the stars as Dragons beat Newcastle 25-14 in Friday's EDF Energy Cup clash.

Tovey, who scored a total of 15 points on the night, was one of three try scorers for the Welsh side as they got off to a great start in their opening Anglo-Welsh match.

Marc Stcherbina and Tom Isaacs were the other scorers for Newport-Gwent while Newcastle's Ollie Phillips was their lone try scorer as they slumped to defeat at Rodney Parade.

Tovey was able to influence the match early on after a scrappy period, converting a penalty in the fifth minute and with Newcastle offering little in attack, it was no surprise when they fell further behind.

Tovey's teasing kick into Falcons' 22 was poorly dealt with by wing Danny Williams, a summer recruit from Super League Grand Finalists Leeds Rhinos, and Stcherbina robbed him of possession for a gift try.

The No. 10 added the conversion, and Newcastle trailed 10-0 despite the Dragons suffering injury disruption as prop Hugh Gustafson departed clutching his arm, and wing Tal Selley briefly went off for treatment.

Super-sub

Former Newcastle captain Charvis also made an impact against his former suitors as he grounded the Falcons with a super-sub display.

The 35-year-old flanker, now part of the Dragons' coaching staff, marked his first senior appearance this season by delivering a memorable second-half performance.

The Dragons trailed 14-13 after conceding a penalty try and a Phillips opportunist score when Charvis appeared as a 52nd-minute replacement but he quickly took charge.

Not only did his team start to boss the forward exchanges, he also created a crucial try for substitute wing Isaacs.

Charvis, Wales' most capped forward in history with 94 Test match appearances, stole possession in midfield, then delivered a stunning one-handed pass to Isaacs, who sprinted clear.

Newcastle, who recovered from a poor opening period to lead through wing Phillips' touchdown, had no answer to Charvis' class.

As Newcastle's stricken superstar Jonny Wilkinson began his recovery from successful knee surgery in the north-east, Charvis and Tovey ensured the Falcons went home empty-handed

After successive Magners League victories over Ulster and Edinburgh, their latest triumph will top up confidence levels ahead of next weekend's Heineken Cup opener against Glasgow.

Newcastle though, just cannot crack the code to winning away from home. In three games on their travels so far this term, they have conceded 108 points and 13 tries in losing to Saracens, Gloucester and now the Dragons.