Summary

  • Opening URC match for Dragons & Edinburgh

  • Griffiths makes 100th appearance for Dragons

  • Healy & Sebastian among five Edinburgh debutants

  1. Goodbyepublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 21 October 2023

    FT: Dragons 17-22 Edinburgh

    That's all from me on live text duties this afternoon, as Edinburgh scrape past Dragons for an opening-day URC win.

    Thanks for your company - go enjoy the rest of your weekend!

  2. 'We showed resilience and hard work'published at 17:04 British Summer Time 21 October 2023

    FT: Dragons 17-22 Edinburgh

    Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt on Viaplay Sports: "Proud of the boys to come back from that shaky first 20 minutes. We conceded turnovers and penalties which didn't help the cause.

    "We spoke before the season about resilience and hard work, and we showed that today.

    "[Ben Healy] has only been with us since Monday, but he is very organised, prepares really well, so it's good for us. What he does bring is goal-kicking, which cost Edinburgh last season."

  3. Player of the Matchpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 21 October 2023

    FT: Dragons 17-22 Edinburgh

    Edinburgh fly-half Ben Healy has been named Player of the Match, and has been giving his thoughts post-match.

    "A bit of composure and sticking to the plan," he said, when asked about what made the difference on Viaplay Sports.

    "It was a rough start for us, but credit to the boys, we stuck to what we knew would work and it did in the end.

    "We needed to absorb pressure, but we kept our heads. We can't kid ourselves - there was a lot wrong out there and there's a lot to improve on.

    "There's definitely stuff to work on in attack moving forward."

  4. Penalty Dragons 17-22 Edinburghpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 21 October 2023

    Ben Healy

    Through it goes, and that is that at Rodney Parade.

    Edinburgh huffed and puffed, but Ben Healy's boot has given them an opening-day victory.

    Plenty of work to do for Sean Everitt and co.

    For Dragons, there are definite signs of promise there, but Dai Flanagan will be gutted to lose a game that they dominated for so long.

  5. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Dragons 17-19 Edinburgh

    Another penalty goes Edinburgh's way, and Ben Healy will kick at goal again.

  6. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Dragons 17-19 Edinburgh

    Edinburgh have possession deep inside Dragons territory with a minute to go.

    Will they play sensibly and keep the ball in tight, or go for the kill?

  7. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Dragons 17-19 Edinburgh

    Having been so impressive in that first half, Dragons look to have run out of steam here.

    They just need one chance though - two and a half minutes left.

  8. Postpublished at 76 mins

    Dragons 17-19 Edinburgh

    Edinburgh force their way into the Dragons 22 once more, but infringe at the breakdown and Dragons kick to touch around halfway.

  9. Postpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 21 October 2023

    Dragons 17-19 Edinburgh

    Derwyn Jones
    Former Wales lock on BBC Radio Cymru

    Dragons have to get territory, and look at the outside backs to create space for the big runners.

  10. Penalty Dragons 17-19 Edinburghpublished at 74 mins

    Ben Healy

    Never in doubt, and Edinburgh lead for the first time today.

    Ben Healy is metronomic off the tee.

  11. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Dragons 17-16 Edinburgh

    A penalty goes Edinburgh's way with Dragons defence creaking, and Ben Healy gestures at the posts.

  12. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Dragons 17-16 Edinburgh

    End-to-end stuff at Rodney Parade.

    It's Edinburgh asking the questions now, working their way into the 22 after multiple phases.

  13. Postpublished at 70 mins

    Dragons 17-16 Edinburgh

    Dragons almost catch Edinburgh napping down the blindside, but Sio Tomkinson can't quite cling onto the ball with the try-line beckoning.

    This one is going to the wire.

  14. Postpublished at 67 mins

    Dragons 17-16 Edinburgh

    Ben Healy goes for a drop-goal from miles out, but drags it wide.

    It had the legs, so you wonder if he'll go for another one in the closing stages...

  15. Postpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 21 October 2023

    Dragons 17-16 Edinburgh

    Derwyn Jones
    Former Wales lock on BBC Radio Cymru

    Edinburgh go down the blind-side, a great break by Healy and a wonderful try.

    They haven't run the ball a lot, but when they have they look much more effective.

  16. converted try

    Converted try Dragons 17-16 Edinburghpublished at 66 mins

    Ben Vellacott

    Just as I say that, Edinburgh click into gear for the first time!

    It's all about fly-half Ben Healy, who shows-and-goes, breaks straight through a hole, and finds Ben Vellacott on his shoulder.

    The wee scrum-half has a clear run to the line, and Healy adds the extras.

    From nowhere, Edinburgh are within just one point.

  17. Postpublished at 64 mins

    Dragons 17-9 Edinburgh

    Edinburgh cannot cope with Dragons' rush defence, but get a slice of luck when Jared Rosser knocks-on attempting an intercept.

    There's just no attacking flair from the visitors - they look devoid of ideas.

  18. Postpublished at 62 mins

    Dragons 17-9 Edinburgh

    Steff Hughes is judged to have tackled Ben Vellacott off the ball, which is a pretty big call.

    Had the penalty not gone Edinburgh's way, it would have been a Dragons scrum 5m out.

  19. Postpublished at 61 mins

    Dragons 17-9 Edinburgh

    Dragons pick Edinburgh apart with some superb hands, but Rhodri Williams finds himself isolated in the Edinburgh 22, and hangs onto the ball for too long in contact.

    The Welsh outfit look really well drilled.

  20. Penalty Dragons 17-9 Edinburghpublished at 56 mins

    Ben Healy

    Ben Healy's boot does the job again for Edinburgh - he's just about keeping his side in it.