Summary

  • Newcastle qualify for the Challenge Cup knockouts with a last-16 home tie

  • Dragons' bonus-point win means they qualify for the knockouts as long as Perpignan and Lions do not draw in France on Saturday with both sides scoring four tries

  • Rio Dyer (2), Brodie Coughlan and David Richards score for Dragons

  • Simon Benitez Cruz and Christian Wade score for Newcastle

  1. How all four Welsh teams can progresspublished at 20:48 GMT 16 January

    HT: Dragons 7-12 Newcastle

    Left to right, Dragons' Shane Lewis-Hughes, Ospreys' Kieran Williams, Cardiff's Tom Bowen and Scarlets' Blair Murray in European actionImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    While you grab a cuppa, let's have a look at what the other Welsh regions need this weekend.

    Mathematically all four can progress to the knockouts

    In the Champions Cup, despite the ding-dong defeat to Pau, Scarlets are still alive.

    Nigel Davies' side (I guess we call it that now) lie fifth in Pool Two and will be eliminated if Pau earn three, four or five match points at home to Bulls.

    If the South African side were to win then Scarlets could sneak fourth place, and an away trip in the last 16, with the small matter of winning at Northampton.

    However, there's still a chance they could end up in the Challenge Cup, but if Bulls - currently behind Scarlets - get any kind of points in France then the Welsh team would have to match their tally at Franklin's Gardens. If Bulls earn nothing in Pau, then barring a huge defeat, European knockout rugby will be secured in the second tier competition.

    It's a simpler equation for Ospreys. Mark Jones' side could finish first, second, third or fourth in Pool One depending on how they fare against Montpellier, with Zebre and Connacht looking to overtake them.

    If they beat the French side to finish top then their overall seeding will depend on how Benetton, Newcastle, Stade Francais and Ulster get on in other pools.

    Cardiff Rugby are also already through in the Challenge Cup and are looking for the best possible seeding. Ulster versus Stade Francais on Saturday will decide who finishes top of Pool Three and that result could open up the runners-up spot before Cardiff play at Exeter, who are also already through.

  2. Half-time: Dragons 7-12 Newcastlepublished at 20:45 GMT 16 January

    The half-time whistle is greeted with stunned silence around Rodney Parade.

    Dragons failed to turn early pressure into points but the Rio Dyer try finally broke the deadlock.

    Just when home fans thought they'd secured an interval lead though, within minutes their side were trailing through that brilliant Simon Benitez Cruz score and Christian Wade's dash to the line.

    As it stands, Newcastle are heading top of the group tonight. Dragons are heading out.

  3. Missed penalty: Dragons 7-12 Newcastlepublished at 41 mins

    Dragons attack with the final play of the half and win a penalty 30 metres out.

    This time, they do go for the posts only for Angus O'Brien to push his effort wastefully wide.

    Angus O'Brien takes a kick at goalImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  4. Postpublished at 39 mins

    Dragons 7-12 Newcastle

    Gwyn Jones
    Former Wales captain on S4C

    Nobody's catching Christian Wade when he has that sort of space in front of him. The game has transformed in two minutes and Newcastle haven't had to do anything.

  5. Postpublished at 38 mins

    Dragons 7-12 Newcastle

    Rhys Priestland
    Wales international fly-half on S4C

    All credit to Newcastle, that's a well taken try, but the Dragons will be frustrated.

    They were in a position to put Newcastle under a lot of pressure but one mistake and Newcastle capitalised on it.

  6. try

    Converted try: Dragons 7-12 Newcastlepublished at 37 mins

    Wade try, Grayson con

    This game has turned around!

    That is a moment Che Hope won't want to watch again.

    The Number nine opts for a cross-field kick - only to see Newcastle winger Christian Wade pluck the ball out of the air and then run in unopposed from 70 metres. Nobody was catching him there.

    Ethan Grayson converts and from nowhere, it's Newcastle in the driving seat.

    Christian Wade celebrates his tryImage source, Getty Images
  7. try

    Try: Dragons 7-5 Newcastlepublished at 35 mins

    Benitez Cruz try

    What a response!

    Newcastle win turnover ball in their own half and counter attack.

    Some flowing interplay between forwards and backs ends with Tom Gordon putting Simon Benitez Cruz over in the corner.

    Ethan Grayson can't covert but that is a swift reply from the visitors.

    Simon Benitez Cruz scores a tryImage source, Getty Images
  8. Postpublished at 34 mins

    Dragons 7-0 Newcastle

    Rhys Priestland
    Wales international fly-half on S4C

    All credit to the Dragons they deserve that try.

    Their maul has been so strong and Newcastle were worried about it. That was an easy finish for Rio Dyer, it came from all the hard work before it.

  9. try

    Converted try: Dragons 7-0 Newcastlepublished at 32 mins

    Dyer try, O'Brien con

    The deadlock is broken!

    For the fourth time of the half, Dragons turn down a shot of goal in favour of Angus O'Brien going for the corner.

    This time, it pays dividends as from the lineout, Tinus de Beer slips an inside ball to Rio Dyer and the winger speeds over untouched.

    Angus O'Brien nails the extras and finally, we have a score.

    Rio Dyer scores a tryImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  10. Postpublished at 31 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    Gwyn Jones
    Former Wales captain on S4C

    There's not much between the two teams. It feels like it's going to go down to who can take their chances.

  11. Postpublished at 30 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    Newcastle lost on their last visit to Rodney Parade, while Dragons conceded 74 points at Benetton last week.

    So in some respects, both camps may be happy not to have conceded anything so far.

    But for the neutrals out there, any chance of a point guys?

  12. Postpublished at 25 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    Ethan Grayson does brilliantly to get across and win the race to Angus O'Brien's chip through - but can only run into touch with Dragons wing David Richards bearing down.

    Again, Filo Tiatia's men can't capitalise though, winning the lineout only for Mr Allison to spot a knock-on at the subsequent breakdown.

  13. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    Sioned Harries
    Former Wales captain on S4C

    The Dragons have started well, but it's the same old Dragons, they haven't been clinical enough.

    Despite that, it is a massive improvement compared to what we saw against Benetton.

  14. Postpublished at 22 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    Gwyn Jones
    Former Wales captain on S4C

    This is the first time Newcastle have had proper possession of the ball and they've put the Dragons on the back foot.

  15. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    A great kick ahead from Sammy Arnold pins the Dragons back, and although Che Hope clears from the defensive lineout, now Newcastle have a platform to attack from 20 metres out.

    They can't use it though, as the ball spills forward in midfield.

  16. Postpublished at 19 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    Gwyn Jones
    Former Wales captain on S4C

    Newcastle are doing a great job of slowing things down.

  17. Postpublished at 16 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    Che Hope goes quickly from a scrum free-kick and after a series of forward drives, Thomas Young surges closer to the line.

    However, the returning Tom Gordon is straight over him to jackle and wins the away side a penalty.

    Dragons may live to rue not converting this early pressure into points.

    Che Hopes for DragonsImage source, Rex Features
  18. Postpublished at 15 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    Referee Christopher Allison is currently sorting out a bit of handbags between the two packs, and while he is, I'll confess I still can't get used to the name Newcastle Red Bulls.

  19. Postpublished at 13 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    It's Dragons on the front foot here but again, an opportunity goes begging.

    Centre Aneurin Owen breaks two tackles and approaches the 22 before linking with Ryan Woodman, but the second row knocks on as he goes to ground.

  20. Postpublished at 10 mins

    Dragons 0-0 Newcastle

    The pressure comes to nothing as hooker Brodie Coughlan is penalised for not throwing in straight, and from the defensive scrum Simon Benitez Cruz produces a great clearance kick.