Boss Dean Ryan admitted a failure to turn possession into points when playing with the conditions cost his spirited Dragons as they were edged out by Ulster at a stormy Rodney Parade.
A strong wind and rain lashed the stadium for the United Rugby Championship clash and Dragons enjoyed plenty of first half territory.
But they could not turn it into scores and Ulster wrapped up the win to take them back top courtesy of tries from Marcus Rea and John Andrew.
“The weather was horrendous, and we are left to rue not making more of that wind in the first half,” said the Director of Dragons Rugby.
“We overplayed a little bit and didn’t win the field position game, and for them to break and get the try at the end of the half was a hammer blow.
“We always knew their power game and their scrum, as the bench came on, started to grow more in the game.
“On days like today you couldn’t move to get field position, so you need power to get field position. The scrum and the drive were probably the difference between the two sides.
“We had to manage field position better and when our outcome of running the ball in hand isn’t positive, we have got to change,” he added.
“We talked a lot about what we planned during the week to what we changed this morning because of conditions.
“We wanted to kick much earlier in the phase game, and we didn’t for some reason. Ultimately, we paid that price.
“It was a tough day and lots of effort for minimal return. But we get ready for Munster now and more power – we can’t hide from that.
“Today was a good platform for us to get ready for that challenge.”
Ryan also picked out a number of his forwards for praise as they battled away in atrocious weather conditions in Newport.
“I thought Joe Maksymiw was outstanding,” he said. “He caused them all sorts of problems at the lineout and that stopped them getting the drive going that we were wary of.
“I think George Young getting on at the end was also a positive for us. “Dan Baker too, in those conditions, was perfect.
“We dropped him into the back field, and he carried the ball fantastically for us.
“It is something we’ve been missing, getting the ball going forward, so I was really pleased for him.”
The weather was horrendous, and we are left to rue not making more of that wind in the first half...
