The French outfit saw off a resolute challenge from the Welsh region at the Stade Marcel Michelin in an open game of attacking fluid rugby which did little for the reputation of defences but yielded 11 tries in attack.
Bruce James produced two penalties in the first few minutes to put the home side 6-0 up before the Dragons hit back with a try from wing Aled Brew.
If the Dragons had thought that Brew’s score would settle things down they were sadly mistaken, the home side kick-started into action and scored 21 points in just nine minutes. Aurelien Rougerie crossed under the sticks, with Bruce James adding the extras to make it 13-5 before Clermont scored two more converted tries. To compound things for the Dragons, Jamie Ringer was then sent to the sin-bin. Clermont No.8 Gonzolo Longo burrowed over to increase the home side’s lead further before prop Thomas Domingo crashed through to stretch the host’s lead to 27-5.
The Dragons managed to get back into the game just before the break as Emmanuel Etien was sin-binned for a professional foul just and Adam Black took advantage to race through unchallenged to breath some life back into the Dragons. Ceri Sweeney’s conversion made it 27-12 at the break.
It got even better for the Dragons in the second half as the impressive Brew collected a chip ahead to cross for an easy run just minutes into the restart. The home side switched off but put their foot back onto the accelerator when Marsh pounced in the corner to extend the home side’s lead once again. A see-saw contest the saw lock Ian Gough cross in the corner before hooker Brice Miguel responded straight away by powering over for the hosts.
As the pace of the game slowed, Mignoni hailed a final nail in the visitors’ coffin when he ran through for a converted score in the closing stages. The Dragons refused to give up and replacement Phil Dollman collected his chip to complete the scoring with a consolation touchdown.
