Dragons RFC produced a stunning late fightback to rock Lyon and send Rodney Parade into ecstasy as the Men of Gwent recorded a crucial win in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The Round 2 points looked set to be heading back with the French Top 14 side as the visitors opened a commanding and seemingly unassailable lead going into the final quarter.
But in a staggering and unforgettable final 14 minutes saw tries from Harri Keddie and Oli Burrows haul Filo Tiatia’s men within five points.
Then, in a breathless finale, Keddie grabbed his second try of the game with less than 90 seconds remaining and captain Angus O’Brien held his nerve to slot the match-winning conversion.
The final whistle was greeted with sheer elation from jubilant home fans and players alike as Rodney rocked to a thunderous ovation.
Before the late drama, it was Lyon who started the game on the front foot and the forwards worked an early penalty before they kicked to the corner. But a superb turnover from Matthew Screech stopped momentum.
Dragons were working hard in defence as Shane Lewis-Hughes and Oli Burrows were the next to secure ball on the floor as Lyon before Screech and Levi Douglas thundered into contact.
O’Brien opened the scoring on 12 minutes after Lyon were caught offside. Tempers at the midpoint of the half but Dragons were enjoying plenty of possession as the opening 40 minutes as they tried to breakdown a physical Lyon outfit.
The game was halted on 23 minutes after a dangerous clearout by Jared Rosser with the wing yellow carded after consultation with the TMO.
Dragons needed to use the ten-minute spell a man down wisely and, after another offside, the lead was duly doubled by O’Brien.
A penalty for holding on gave Lyon a chance to kick to the corner with the numerical advantage but, after sucking men in, a cross-field kick to an unopposed Arthur Mathiron saw the wing fail to take the high bomb.
Lyon were building up a head of steam and scored from a set move as a tap penalty was taken by lock Janse Roux who barged over under the posts. Charlie Cassang converted for the lead.
The French visitors again infringed offside just before the interval but O’Brien’s kick from halfway pulled up short of the target as the visitors took a slender lead to the break.
Lyon started the second half as they did the first with physical ball carriers before a moment of pure magic from wing Mathiron who chipped ahead into space and touched down.
Scrum half Che Hope as introduced with half hour to play but the possession was all Lyon as they were held up after several punishing carries close to the line.
A second yellow card of the game for the hosts saw Tinus de Beer sinbinned and as the penalties piled up the third visiting try came from replacement front row Ave Maalo.
Dragons finally struck a blow on 66 minutes when the maul drove over with Keddie the man to dot the ball down.
The momentum suddenly swung to Dragons with Owen held up but Josiah Maraku was yellow carded to ensure the visitors would end the game with 14 men.
The home side struck once more as a lineout saw Burrows bulldoze over to cut the lead to five points.
More pressure came as Wainwright, Woodman and Morris all carried strongly.
Ewan Rosser went for the corner and was taken high as he went for the line. The TMO stepped in and awarded a penalty as the terrace called for more.
One final push saw the forwards carry up close before Keddie smashed over. And then O’Brien held his nerve to spark wild scenes.
Timeline:
11m O’Brien p 3-0
26m O’Brien p 6-0
32m Roux t Cassang c 6-7
44m Mathiron t Cassang c 6-14
58m Maalo t Gonzalez c 6-21
66m Keddie t 11-21
74m Burrows t 16-21
79m Keddie t O’Brien c 23-21
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Jared Rosser, David Richards (Westwood 59), Aneurin Owen, Huw Anderson, Tinus de Beer (E. Rosser 69), Niall Amstrong (Hope 52); Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Morris 59), Oli Burrows (Austin 75), Robert Hunt, Levi Douglas (Woodman 44), Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Thomas Young (Keddie 59), Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Will Austin, Jordan Morris, Owain James, Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie, Che Hope, Joe Westwood, Ewan Rosser
Lyon: Ethan Dumortier, Dorian Diabou, Alfred Parisien, Iosefo Balewairiki, Arthur Mathiron, Alexandre Tchaptchet, Charlie Cassang; Jérôme Rey, Mathis Sarragallet, Cedate Gomes Sa, Félix Lambey, Janse Roux, Marvin Okuya, Beka Shvangiradze, Maxime Gouzou
Replacements: Thomas Marceline, Hamza Kaabeche, Ave Maalo, Bartholome Sanson, Arno Botha, Lilian Baret, Esteban Gonzalez, Josiah Maraku
Referee: Filippo Russo (Ita)
Attendance: 4,028
