Frustrated boss Dai Flanagan admitted a high error rate and lack of competitiveness in the first half cost his Dragons as they slipped to a 36-19 defeat at Benetton Rugby in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
The Men of Gwent battled back from a 19-0 deficit in Treviso with second half scores from Jared Rosser, Dane Blacker and Che Hope.
Dragons threatened an upset as they twice pulled up close and hunted a late try bonus point in Italy.
But they ultimately left empty-handed again on their travels to the frustration of Flanagan who dubbed the game an ‘opportunity missed’.
“I’m bitterly disappointed,” said Flanagan. “Our error rate was through the roof and our competitiveness didn’t exist first half.
“There are errors in our game that allows the game to go away from us and moments in matches that we are not executing on.
“We need to be better and we need to start better. Then, when we have momentum swings, we have got a chance.
“We’ve got to look at ourselves. It was an opportunity missed.
“When we are in their 22 and on the front foot and then something happens and we are defending in our 22. There is only so much defending you can do before you break.
“We’ve got errors in our game that we’ve got to eradicate and system things we have to get better at.
“I thought some individuals really stood up, but what we have got to do is be collectively better,” he added.
“There were lots of 50:50s we missed. We chased kicks superbly well, but fundamentally when the ball bounces you have got to in it and we didn’t.
“We looked like we cared for each other a bit more second half and that is disappointing.
“Coming away from home you have got to start well and 19-0 at the break you are always chasing it.
“We got to 24-12 and are in their 22 and then one kick and we are on our own five-metre line. That is really frustrating.”
Dragons now turn their attention to Connacht at home next weekend and Flanagan is eager for his team to finish the season strongly on home soil.
“I said in the week, we are proud to play in front of our people. We care a lot for the game when we are at Rodney Parade and we can’t wait to get back out there,” he stressed.
“It’s been tough on the road this year. We haven’t been great.
“But we have been good at home, we are four from six, and we want to go five from seven next weekend and give our fans something to cheer about.”
Join us on Green Day at Rodney Parade when we face Connacht on Saturday, April 27 (kick-off 8pm). CLICK HERE or call 01633 670690 during office hours.
Our error rate was through the roof and our competitiveness didn’t exist first half... We’ve got to look at ourselves. It was an opportunity missed...
