Head Coach Dai Flanagan was left to rue another ‘missed opportunity’ as Dragons saw the club’s European bid end with a 29-9 defeat to Hollywoodbets Sharks at a blustery Rodney Parade.
The Men of Gwent had a first half try from Jared Rosser disallowed and kept the Sharks within three points before a late burst saw the South Africans run out bonus point winners.
Flanagan admitted the EPCR Challenge Cup campaign was one of missed chances as Dragons took points from three games but went out in the pool stages.
“It’s a missed opportunity,” said Flanagan. “But we haven’t lost qualification tonight against the Sharks.
“We were leading at Pau in the last minutes and Zebre away we are three points behind with a minute to go with the ball. We’ve lost it over time.
“That sums up where we are this season. We have played well in patches and then collapse.
“It was disappointing. It was probably the same as last week, for 25 to 30 minutes we were superb into the wind and then momentum turns and we don’t regather it,” added Flanagan.
“We had a phase in that second half when we drove a maul up the touchline and I thought we had learned, that was what we spoke about in the week about how to regain momentum.
“We kicked a penalty from it but then we didn’t get back in the game. They managed the 22s really well with their power game and we gave them too many ins with silly penalties.”
Flanagan admitted the Rosser disallowed try was a crucial moment as Dragons would have gone 10-0 ahead.
“The was massive,” he admitted. “It changes the mood, the optimism and how you go into the next play.
“Jared works very hard and will get over it. He is one of the top try scorers for this club so if he can evolve this part of his game will be huge for him, because those are easier than the tries he converts.”
Dragons now have a period without a game – they are next in action away to Glasgow in mid-February.
“There are a lot of young boys out there and we a few weeks now until out next game, so we need to reflect on this block,” added Flanagan.
“It’s tough to learn week to week while you are playing, and the pressure is on, and you are not winning. It’s important we learn.
“We must break the cycle that has been here a long time before I came here. We get a good win against the Scarlets and then we switch off. We must break it.
“Whether that is personal or system, we must home in it and be ruthless and have higher standards.”
We were leading at Pau in the last minutes and Zebre away we are three points behind with a minute to go with the ball. We’ve lost it over time...
