Dragons dismantled in France

Biarritz moved nine points clear at the top of Pool Two in the Heineken Cup with a 49-13 mauling of Newport Gwent Dragons.

Having hammered Gloucester last time out in Europe, the French side gave a further demonstration of their attacking abilities with a demolition job at Parc des Sports Augilera.

Former England international Iain Balshaw bagged two of the home side's six tries as the Dragons suffered their heaviest defeat in the competition.

The Welsh side did manage a second-half try from Tom Riley but it was no more than a consolation as they suffered a sixth straight loss on French soil.

Poor discipline

Beating Biarritz at home is a hard enough task in itself, but the Dragons did themselves few favours by going down to 14 men inside the opening quarter - Hugh Gustafson the offender as he was sin-binned for a professional foul.

By the time the prop returned there was a sizeable gap between the two sides, a pair of Yachvili penalties being sandwiched in between a penalty try.

Things were to get even worse for the Dragons when number eight Grant Webb was yellow carded just three minutes after Gustafson came back on.

Biarritz cashed in again when they had the numerical advantage, scoring two tries in a devastating three-minute period.

Having added a third penalty following Webb's sin-binning, Yachvili managed to touch down before winger Takudzwa Ngwenya picked off an ambitious pass to canter over.

With both scores converted, the Dragons found themselves 30-6 down at the break having mustered only two penalties from James Arlidge in reply.

Bonus point

It did not take Biarritz long to clinch the bonus point either, Balshaw touching down out wide after the pack had sucked in defenders.

The former Bath and Gloucester back grabbed his second just 12 minutes later, Yachvili assisting in the try with a clever kick before booting the conversion. The French international finished with a personal haul of 22 points.

Dragons coach Paul Turner rang the changes in a bid to stem the tide and eventually Riley breached the home defence to give the small travelling band of away supporters something to cheer about.

Biarritz refused to let their opponents have the last word, though, substitute Valentine Courrent converting his own try in the closing minutes.