77), Kruger, Griffen, Bocca (de Carli, 65), Moretti (Ghiraldini 51), M. Nathan Thomas made the initial incision, Justin Marshall took it on for Tom Biggs to pop a one-handed pass to Tom Palmer for the lock to cross. Kruger drilled over a third penalty, as did Ross, but tries by Rayno Gerber and Stimpson earned Leeds a bonus point and a very hard-earned victory.Leeds: Tries: Rawlinson, Palmer, Dunbar, Stimpson; Conversions: Ross 2; Pens: Ross 3.Calvisano: Try: Vian-Schalkwyk. Conversion: Kruger; Penalties: Kruger 3.Leeds: Stimpson, Rees (Doherty, 55), Vickerman, Snyman, Biggs, Ross (De Maringey, 79), Marshall (McMillan, 79), Kerr (Isaacson, 71), Rawlinson (Bulloch, 55), Gerber, Murphy (Morgan, 71), Palmer, Hyde (Dunbar, 55), Parks, Thomas.Calvisano: Vian-Schalkwyk, Nitoglia, Vaccari, Zanoletti, Tuta-Vodo (Mulieri.
Ross converted to give Leeds some breathing space at 18-13.But Calvisano were not done. Kruger converted and added a penalty, and an upset looked possible.The likelihood receded when Leeds at last strung together a series of passes. But after Gordon Ross slotted two early penalties, all the frailties reappeared, the Tykes' line-out was a shambles, at the tackle area they were often second best and they trailed by a point at the interval.First to strike for the Italians was their South African outside-half, Herkules Kruger, who banged over a penalty, and was prominent throughout.Leeds raised themselves for an isolated assault on the Calvisano line and, although Tim Stimpson was held short of the line, they had built enough momentum for Rob Rawlinson to scramble across.But the home defence was left flat-footed by Kruger's deft chip. Apenise Tuta-Vodo collected it to put the full back, Jacobus van Schalkwyk, over for a stunning try. They failed utterly to convince against a game Calvisano outfit who were eventually outmuscled, though never outplayed by the Tykes. Despite a mediocre performance, though, the departing Davies was pleased, describing the game as a "defining moment" for the club."It's been an interesting week for us," he said."We've got a base to work on and the appointment could be made within a week, six weeks or seven months - I don't know."But at the end of the day I'm still in charge until that appointment is made and we will move forward."Despite Davies' brave words, this was a fairly drab effort, especially as Calvisano, having won away once since they entered the Heineken Cup, and without a victory in the two most recent seasons, were there for the taking.Leeds started well enough. It has been an awfully long time coming, but Leeds halted the worst losing run in their history - eight straight losses - with an untidy if welcome win in this Pool Two contest at Headingley last night. Hodgson edged his side back in front with a penalty goal after the centre Elvis Seveali'i had smashed through the Dragons' midfield, and the fly-half's break set up the replacement lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe to score the bonus-point try.
Seveali'i added a fifth and Hodgson notched his fifth conversion.Newport-Gwent: Try: Wyatt; Penalties: Warlow 2.Sale: Tries: Hodgson, Cueto, Larrechea, Lobbe, Seveali'i; Conversions: Hodgson 5; Penalty: Hodgson.Newport-Gwent: Morgan, Wyatt, Tuipulotu, Sweeney (Bryant, 80), Breeze (Fussell, 50), Warlow, Cooper, Maddocks (Black, 50), S Jones, R. Thomas, Sidoli, Charteris, Hall, Forster (Ringer, 68), Owen.Sale: Larrechea (Ripol, 46), Cueto, Taylor (Todd, 77), Seveali'i, Robinson, Hodgson, Martens (Courrent, 66), Sheridan, Bruno (Titterrell, 53), Turner (Coutts, 73), Jones, Schofield (Lobbe, 57), White, Lund, Chabal.Referee: C Berdos (France).. Hodgson added the conversion, and then the Dragons' night went from bad to miserable when Sidoli was yellow-carded for a professional foul.The match became 15 against 13 shortly after halftime when the Dragons' flanker Andew Hall was sin-binned for a lineout infringement, but that meant nothing when Gareth Wyatt, the most under-rated winger in Welsh rugby, scored a superb kick-and-chase try.By any standards it was a fine try - but completely against the run of play. We're very pleased with the bonus point - especially as we were playing away."The club's captain Jason Robinson added: "We targeted this game. We knew they would come out strongly in the second half - like they did against Castres last week - but we're happy with two out of two."The Dragons had suffered an injury blow just prior to the kick-off when the Wales lock Ian Gough was forced to withdraw from their starting line-up because of a rib problem. "We managed to put a few things together, and managed to make it look better than it was I thought our forwards were superb tonight.