Captain Rhodri Williams praised Dragons for mounting a second half fightback at the Kingspan Stadium that threatened to upset Ulster Rugby.
Two quick-fire tries from Elliot Dee – on his 100th URC appearance – and the skipper cut the home lead to seven points as the Men of Gwent roared back in Belfast.
Ulster eventually pulled away late on to wrap up the bonus point win in their bid for the league title.
But Williams was pleased by the response from his team and his rallying cry just after the break.
“It was a massive stride forward for us as a group,” said Williams.
“I know the score got away from us towards the end, but when we went down 26-7 just after half-time, I asked the group we either shut shop now or we react.
“We scored two tries and had an attacking lineout in their 22. At 26-19 we feel the game could have gone either way.
“There are things to work on and the final score is still 40-19. We can’t keep giving teams ins into our 22.
“A team like Ulster, with a big pack and how clinical they are with those five-metre drives, we just can’t keep doing that. We must learn from that.
“There was great character from the boys,” he added. “You can’t ask for more and we take that now into a massive game next weekend with Scarlets and Judgement Day.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the group after the last few weeks.
“I asked them to express themselves and we played our brand of rugby. “
We didn’t just keep it tight. We showed what we could do out wide and we still missed some opportunities.
“It’s positive because we still have a lot to go, and we are stressing top teams like Ulster at the Kingspan.
“It starts up front and we had a decent platform, and we could put some plays on them. Credit to the forwards for that work.
“As a group we want to express ourselves and we showed that.”
It’s positive because we still have a lot to go, and we are stressing top teams like Ulster at the Kingspan...
