Summary

  • Sharks progress to last 16 as Pool winners while Dragons are eliminated

  • Hendrikse, Nche, Grobler, Roets and Kok score for Sharks

  • Jared Rosser's sensational solo try disallowed

  • Ospreys clinched home tie with comeback win at Lions

  • But North forced off with shoulder injury

  1. Postpublished at 43 mins

    Dragons 6-12 Sharks

    And the first major thing that happens after Taine Basham comes on is the referee is annoyed with the Dragons discipline and he turns a scrum into a penalty for Sharks.

  2. Replacementpublished at 41 mins

    Dragons 6-12 Sharks

    There is a change at half-time with Wales squad flanker Taine Basham on for Ollie Griffiths.

  3. Kick-offpublished at 41 mins

    Dragons 6-12 Sharks

    Dragons full-back Cai Evans kicks off the second half with the wind at his back.

    A six-point deficit they need to address.

  4. Ospreys eyeing potential Sale clashpublished at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2024

    HT: Dragons 6-12 Sharks

    In south-west France, Bayonne have a bonus point in the bag and lead Dafydd Jenkins' Exeter Chiefs 26-7 at half-time.

    So unless Chiefs pull something remarkable out of the bag, Ospreys will host Sale in the next round of the Challenge Cup.

    It also means Bayonne could be heading to Rodney Parade if Dragons can turn things around.

  5. Brown back in actionpublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2024

    HT: Dragons 6-12 Sharks

    One thing that has been good to see is Wales prop Leon Brown making his first start of the season.

    He has had so many injuries but is in the Six Nations squad and Warren Gatland will be hoping this will be his breakthrough tournament.

  6. Half-time Dragons 6-12 Sharkspublished at 18:21 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2024

    So Dragons looked comfortable as they led 6-0 in the opening 30 minutes with two Cai Evans penalties.

    Then they concede two tries just before half-time for Jaden Hendrikse and Ox Nche and the complexion changes.

    Dragons will have the elements in the second half. Is that a six-point wind? Time will tell.

  7. try

    Try - Dragons 6-12 Sharkspublished at 40 mins

    Ox Nche

    The Dragons appeared to have kept Sharks at bay but have conceded a couple of tries just before half-time.

    The second score is from Springbok World Cup winning prop Ox Nche as he powers over simply from a tap penalty.

    What a turnaround.

    Ox Nche scores for SharksImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  8. try

    Converted try: Dragons 6-7 Sharkspublished at 36 mins

    Jaden Hendrikse (con Curwin Bosch)

    The pressure has eventually told and it is scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse who is the beneficiary after the power of the Sharks forwards.

    Sharks take the lead for the first time.

    Jaden Hendrikse scores first half try for SharksImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  9. Postpublished at 30 mins

    Dragons 6-0 Sharks

    The wind is causing havoc and a kick from Sharks fly-half Bosch has gone dead and given the Dragons an attacking opportunity but nothing comes of it.

  10. Postpublished at 26 mins

    Dragons 6-0 Sharks

    The weather is very different back in sunny South Africa and the Sharks players look like they are struggling in the windy and wet Welsh conditions.

    They will hope they settle down soon.

  11. Postpublished at 24 mins

    Dragons 6-0 Sharks

    Wales Under-20s captain Ryan Woodman is a great prospect and achieved a crucial turnover for his side there.

    One to watch for the future.

  12. Penalty - Dragons 6-0 Sharkspublished at 23 mins

    Cai Evans

    Dragons might have blown two tries in the same move but have managed a second penalty through Cai Evans to double the lead.

    Not bad playing into a strong wind.

    Cai Evans kicks a penalty for DragonsImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  13. Postpublished at 21 mins

    Dragons 3-0 Sharks

    After that excitement we are back to a kicking battle at Rodney Parade.

    Dragons will wonder whether that Jared Rosser score being ruled out will come back to haunt them.

    Cai Evans takes a high ball for DragonsImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  14. converted try

    Drama! No try for Dragonspublished at 19 mins

    Dragons 3-0 Sharks

    What a period of play and it appeared to be a try for Dragons wing Jared Rosser before he was cruelly denied.

    The Dragons were attacking and had a pass intercepted with Sharks clearing their lines which forced Rosser to go back and claim the ball.

    He evaded the Sharks defence and burst clear before kicking himself and sprinting away to score.

    The conversion was taken but the TMO came in and the officials decided Rosser had not grounded the ball properly!

    Jared Rosser try effortImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  15. Postpublished at 12 mins

    Dragons 3-0 Sharks

    Dragons scrum-half Dane Blacker will not want to see that again. Tried to take a quick tap penalty but lost possession of the ball although it was not a knock-on.

    Conditions causing problems for both sides.

  16. In France...published at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2024

    Dragons 3-0 Sharks

    We will keep you up to date with events in the south-west tip of France.

    Not only is new Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins leading Exeter Chiefs but the result will have a direct bearing on who the Ospreys - and perhaps Dragons - face in the last 16.

    That's because Bayonne are already guaranteed to be one of the four teams dropping down from the Champions Cup to the knockout stage of the Challenge Cup - along with Connacht, Sale and Ulster.

    The question is what order they will be seeded.

    If Bayonne win, Ospreys will host Sale in the next round.

    If Exeter win, Ospreys face Connacht.

    As it stands, Bayonne lead 7-0 after 10 minutes.

  17. Penalty - Dragons 3-0 Salepublished at 8 mins

    Cai Evans

    Early pressure from Dragons give Wales squad member Cai Evans the chance to open the scoring with a penalty.

  18. Postpublished at 5 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Sharks

    It is a big eight days for Dragons and Newport County football team who share the Rodney Parade ground.

    Newport beat Wrexham 1-0 yesterday and will host the mighty Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round next Sunday.

    Seb Palmer-Houlden of Newport County celebrates after scoring goalImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
    Image caption,

    Seb Palmer-Houlden celebrates after scoring against Wrexham

  19. Postpublished at 2 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Sharks

    Not surprising there is an early knock-on by the Sharks in the game. There will be a lot of those tonight!

  20. Kick-offpublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2024

    Dragons 0-0 Sharks

    Adrien Marbot blows his whistle and Sharks' fly-half Curwin Bosch gets us under way at a very soggy Rodney Parade.