Dean Ryan praised the performance of returning star Cory Hill as he helped inspire Dragons to an impressive 25-16 win over Worcester Warriors in the European Challenge Cup.
Wales international Hill played his first regional game for Dragons since January but showed no signs of rustiness with an all-action 80-minute show at Rodney Parade.
And boss Ryan insisted that Hill’s experience had helped guide Dragons home in a ‘chess match’ of a European Challenge Cup fixture played in filthy wet conditions.
“The plan was 50 minutes for Cory - but that good plan changed,” smiled Ryan. “It was a chess game and Cory is smart and was causing them problems with the drive.
“I didn’t really want to bring him off and it wasn’t a big running game, so just thought we had to play chess for longer. He has experience in Test matches, which a lot of the time are like that.
“It was the right decision, before the game we thought about trying to lift the tempo with Harri Keddie coming on for Cory but once we saw the night’s weather I thought about staying a bit longer to see if something came for us.
“The fresh legs off the bench got us a couple of scrum penalties and we got a bit of joy in the drive. I thought that in last 20 minutes we dominated.”
Ryan also praised the display of half back duo Rhodri Williams and Sam Davies after they ran the game in wet and windy weather.
“They are getting better and better,” beamed Ryan.
“That comes from experiences, no game is the same as another and we have had some tough ones.
“Edinburgh away was a key game because we understood how to compete and in other games we have probably played too much, like Munster away.
“They are getting to a night like Friday where they knew what to do in those circumstances, so I am incredibly proud of everybody and it was nice to hear a bit of Rodney Parade noise.”
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I just thought we had to play chess for longer. He has experience in Test matches, which a lot of the time are like that...
