Murrayfield success for the Dragons
A late Andrew Turnbull try for Edinburgh set up a dramatic final 13 minutes but, in the end, the Dragons held on to record a hugely important 9-8 victory over the Gunners on Sunday evening.
The visitors flyhalf, James Arlidge, scored three penalties inside the first half an hour of the match, giving the Dragons a 9-0 lead, but they could never have imagined that that would prove to be enough for the win.
Going into the break still nine points up Paul Turner's troops looked full of determination while the home side were struggling to really click into gear.
Seventeen minutes into the second period Edinburgh were finally on the scoreboard when flyhalf Phil Godman slotted a successful penalty.
Turnball then scored the games only try but, with Godman failing to add the extra two points, the hosts were still one point down with time running out on the clock.
Making use of every available reserve, eating up time wherever they could, the Dragons were able to hold on for the win and secure a hugely valuable four points away at the home of last years' Magners League runners' up.
The Scorers
For Edinburgh
Try: Turnball
Pen: Godman
For Dragons
Pens: Arlidge 3
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 John Houston, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Allister Hogg (captain), 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Scott Newlands, 5 Scott MacLeod, 4 Steve Turnbull, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Craig Hamilton, 19 Roddy Grant, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Mark Robertson, 22 Steve Jones.
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Jason Tovey, 14 Aled Brew, 13 Tom Riley, 12 Matther Watkins, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Grant Webb, 7 Gavin Thomas, 6 Hoani Macdonald, 5 Adam Jones, 4 Rob Sidoli, 3 Patrick Palmer, 2 Steve Jones (captain), 1 Hugh Gustafson
Replacements: 16 Duane Goodfield, 17 Peter Bracken, 18 James Harris, 19 Toby Falatau, 20 Martyn Thomas, 21 Rhodri Gomer Davies, 22 Danny Lee
Date: Sunday, November 1
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Time: 17.05
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Allan (Scotland), Graham Allen (Scotland)
TMO: Fergus Neil (Scotland)