An Akapusi Qera-inspired second half fight back by Gloucester propelled the Cherry and Whites to 32-23 victory at Rodney Parade and revived their season as Bryan Redpath's men sealed a place in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The flanker, who recently signed a new two year deal at the English club, scored a hat trick of tries to help secure a bonus point win for Gloucester that sends them into the knockout stage of European rugby's second tier competition.

The defeat leaves the Dragons propping up Pool 2, and their fans will be particularly disappointed about the second half capitulation that signaled the end of the Welsh club’s European season.

The first half was a close encounter with plenty of nudging and probing by the two fly-halfs, with a penalty each all the sides had to show for their efforts after 20 minutes. Qera then opened his account for the day, touching down a converted try to open up a seven point gap.

But a second James Arlidge penalty kept Newport in the hunt, and after the away side were reduced to 14 men thanks to a yellow card for Dave Attwood, saw centre Rhodri Gomer-Davis score a converted try to edge the Dragons ahead 13-10. A lead added to by Arlidge’s smart drop-goal seconds before the whistle.

But, no doubt smarting from a Redpath half-time rollicking and a raft of substitutions, Qera and his team soon began to assert themselves over an increasingly poor Newport side. 

The flying Fijian crossed for his second try of the day after a driving lineout inside the Dragon’s 22, and Nick Robinson slotted another penalty to send his side 18-15 ahead.

It was then Gloucester’s turn to profit from indiscipline, and they pulled clear after Dragon’s replacement Ben Castle was yellow-carded after 55 minutes.

Qera completed his hat-trick to add to another Robinson penalty and a converted penalty try to put the game out of reach at 32-10 with just ten minutes remaining and secure the bonus point victory.

And, though Ashley Smith celebrated his return from long-term injury with a try in stoppage time to make it 32-23, it was stark consolation for the Dragons, and they will be forced to wait another year at least to have a crack at European rugby.

Dragons (16) 23
Tries: Gomer-Davies, Smith Cons: Alridge, Tovey Pens: Alridge 2 Drop-goal: Alridge
Gloucester (10) 32
Tries: Qera 3, penalty Cons: Robinson 3 Pens: Robinson 2





Newport Gwent Dragons v Gloucester Rugby
Rodney Parade, Newport
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Sunday 24th January 2010, 12:45

Newport Gwent Dragons: M Thomas, A Brew, R Gomer-Davies, T Riley, R Fussell, J Arlidge, W Evans, H Gustafson, T Willis [capt], G Robinson, H MacDonald, R Sidoli D Lydiate, J Harris, L Evans
Replacements: S Jones, A McKenzie, B Castle, A Jones, G Thomas, J Leadbeater, A Smith, J Tovey

Gloucester Rugby: O Morgan, J Simpson-Daniel, T Molenaar, E Fuimaono-Sapolu, L Vainikolo, N Robinson, R Lawson, A Dickinson, S Lawson, G Somerville, D Attwood, A Brown, L Narraway, A Qera, G Delve [capt]
Replacements: O Azam, N Wood, P Capdevielle, A Eustace, P Buxton, D Lewis, F Burns, T Voyce

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