Newcomers Anzelo Tu’itavuki and Ere Enari scored first tries on home soil as 13-try Dragons rattled past Hartpury to convincingly 81-12 win in pre-season at Rodney Parade.
The Men of Gwent blew off any cobwebs in the 40 minutes as they raced into a commanding 38-0 lead, with Jac Lloyd, David Richards and Barny Langton-Cryer among those to score.
The second half saw the half century come up before the hour mark – Rhodri Williams, Levi Douglas, Elliot Dee and Brogan Leary (2) crossing - as Filo Tiatia’s men rang the changes.
Summer recruit Enari also secured a late brace as the squad got valuable minutes as the countdown to the new league season continues at pace.
New signing Tu’itavuki took just four minutes to announce himself as a break from full back Huw Anderson splintered the Hartpury defence and the supporting Morgan Lloyd kicked ahead for the wing to touch down.
The Tongan wing showed his defensive work as he raced back to mop up a kick ahead from Charlie Powell as Dragons looked to hold out the English Championship side.
A penalty secured by Shane Lewis-Hughes on the deck kept Dragons in the ascendency before a charge down by Morgan Lloyd saw the scrum half gather and dot down for a converted score.
Evan Minto twice ran hard into contact while skipper Harry Beddall was his usual busy self at the breakdown Morgan Lloyd grabbed a second of the game as he beat the final man after impressive work from Tu’itavuki and David Richards cut him loose.
A solid defensive effort, with Sam Scarfe to the fore, freed up more ball and Richards broke the line before his sumptuous dummy sent him away and over. Jac Lloyd converted.
Fly half Lloyd grabbed a score of his own on the half hour as stripped ball by Paea and quick hands from replacement Rhodri Williams and Tu’itavuki sent the playmaker over.
Lock Barny Langton-Cryer completed the first half points as pressure and a bulldozing carry from Paea broke visiting resistance.
Dragons made eight changes at the break and it was Hartpury who scored first as they burrowed over from close range after sustained pressure on the home line.
A superb counterattack from deep was finished off by a diving Rhodri Williams into the corner to extend the lead further before Douglas showed his footwork to step the final man after Rosser tore past men.
Hartpury landed a further blow from close range before a second water break in the game.
New signing Ere Enari was introduced for the final quarter in Newport and Elliot Dee got in on the scoring after a thumping driving maul punched over.
Young centre Brogan Leary got in on the act after a kick ahead from Harry Rees-Weldon forced Hartpury to cough up ball on their own line.
Enari raced into the corner after Rosser broke down the left and fed the supporting runner and was again on hand after some magic from Harri Ford to offload in the tackle.
It was left to Dragons Academy ace Leary to add the final flourish with a sublime pick-up and finish under the posts.
Timeline:
04m Tu’itavuki t 5-0
11m M. Lloyd t J. Lloyd c 12-0
20m M. Lloyd t J. Lloyd c 19-0
23m Richards t J. Lloyd c 26-0
30m J. Lloyd t 31-0
36m Langton-Cryer t J. Lloyd c 38-0
44m t James c 38-7
49m Williams t 43-7
52m Douglas t Ford c 50-7
60m t 50-12
62m Dee t Ford c 57-12
67m Leary t 62-12
70m Enari t 67-12
72m Enari t Ford c 74-12
77m Leary t Ford c 81-12
Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson (Evans 40), David Richards (Rosser 40), Joe Westwood (Owen 66), Fetuli Paea (Leary 50), Anzelo Tu’itavuki (Rees-Weldon 40) Jac Lloyd (Ford 50), Morgan Lloyd (Williams 29 (Enari 60-76))); Rhodri Jones (Morris 30 (Re. Jones 60)), Sam Scarfe (Dee 40 (Burrows 66)), Chris Coleman (James 40), Seb Davies (Douglas 40 (Thomas 59)), Barny Langton-Cryer, Shane Lewis-Hughes (Woodman 40), Harry Beddall (Ry. Jones 50), Evan Minto (Tuipulotu 40)
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Jordan Morris, Owain James, Levi Douglas, Nick Thomas, Ryan Woodman, Ryan Jones, Rhodri Williams, Ereatara Enari, Harri Ford, Jared Rosser, Harry Rees-Weldon, Cai Evans, Aneurin Owen, Brogan Leary, Oli Burrows, Regan Jones
Hartpury: Brad Denty, Charlie Powell, Harry Ingram, Ollie Allsopp, Ollie Holliday, Harrison James, Sam Allford; Harrison Bellamy, Will Crane, Joe Rees, Pete Paramore, Cam Cobbett, Oli Smith, Jay Evans, Cam Murray
Replacements: Casey Williams, Henry Feeney, Alex Gibson, Charlie Overton, Lewis Golding, Ellis Hart, Dan Bartlett, Rhys Price, Taite Fortey, Keir Clark, Gio Nostro, Robbie Smith, Alex Forrester, Mattie Cotton, Ollie Minnis
Referee: Carwyn Sion
Attendance: 2,500 tickets issued
