Dragons RFC and Hollywoodbets Sharks served up a BKT United Rugby Championship cracker at Rodney Parade as the South Africans powered back to snatch the points with a 33-30 win and break home hearts.
The Sharks had won all four previous matches they have played against Dragons in all competitions, and they continued they run with a comeback show and dramatic finish in Newport.
The Men of Gwent – without a victory over a South African adversary since February 2020 - played some sublime rugby in the first half with tries from Taine Basham, Chris Coleman, and Rhodri Williams.
Sharks produced a blistering three-try burst in ten minutes to wrestle back control. Back came Dragons with captain Ben Carter grabbing the try bonus point just before the hour.
But in a tense finale it was the Sharks who struck five minutes into injury time when replacement hooker Fez Mbatha burrowed over and was awarded the try by the TMO.
Dragons were dealt a late blow before kick-off with prop Leon Brown ruled out through illness and replaced by Chris Coleman. Luke Yendle was elevated to the bench.
Basham had an immediate impact as he unloaded a big tackle on Andre Esterhuizen and back row partners Dan Lydiate and Shane Lewis-Hughes swooped to secure the penalty. Lloyd Evans stepped up but saw his penalty attempt after two minutes drift wide left.
Seconds later another penalty at the breakdown gave Evans the chance to immediately redeem himself and he duly slotted the three points for the lead.
O’Brien, back in the team after injury, pinned Sharks back with a sublime 50:22. A slick lineout move then sent Rhodri Williams down then shortside before the visitors recovered.
Another penalty for a high tackle saw Dragons kick deep into the visiting 22 and the TMO intervene to hand a yellow card to James Venter for the shot on Aneurin Owen.
Scrum half Williams continued to turn the screw with a kick in behind, as the home side dominated territory in the opening 15 minutes.
The penalty count was starting to mount up against Sharks and pressure finally told as Owen snipped close before Lydiate and Screech were just held out and Basham bulldozed over.
The South Africans responded with a typically bruising passage of play before they crashed over with Vincent Tshituka crashing over. Siya Masuku missed the extras.
Rhodri Williams handed off one man after a steepling kick from Jaden Hendrikse, but after rattling into the 22 the home side were overeager at the breakdown and penalised.
A scintillating move from the back line then sent an arching Williams into space and he fed Rio Dyer, with the flying wing just stopped short. Patient play, though, was then rewarded as Coleman touched down.
Sharks looked threatening every time they entered the home 22 as strong forward play and direct running caused the Dragons problems.
But Dragons held firm before some stunning handling sent the home side away again as Evans, Wilson and Owen freed Rosser who stepped back inside and sent the supporting Williams in.
Back bit the Sharks with a sublime try of their own as Jurenzo Julius broke the line and the ball was fed through hands of Ethan Hooker for Jaden Hendriske to score. Masuku added the extras to cut the lead.
The South Africans started the second half as they left off the first as they worked their way into Dragons territory with O’Brien left on the ground and replaced by Reed after a big contact.
Sharks cracked through tackles and were awarded a third try for powerful centre Julius after consultation with the TMO over the grounding.
The visitors then hit the front as wing Ethan Hooker touched down from a cross field kick to complete a 21-point burst in ten minutes.
The Sharks momentum took a hit when lock Jason Jenkins was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and the home forwards went to work with captain Carter crashing over the whitewash for the try bonus.
Stripped ball saw Rosser kick ahead for Reed to chase down a retreating Hendrikse and force a penalty. The replacement then stepped up and nailed the kick for a 30-26 lead.
Rodney was rocking once more as the teams continued to trade blows, with Evans taken out as he chased a high up and under. Reed lined up the resulting penalty but pushed it left of the posts.
Dragons were forced to dig deep on their own line to repel a ferocious Sharks attack as the game continued to live on a knife edge with ten minutes to go.
Nerves were being shredded as Sharks again pumped the ball into the home 22 but again solid defence forced a turnover in the shadow of the posts.
A heart-stopping finale then saw Sharks camped on the home line and with five minutes overtime played it was hooker Mbatha who snatched the win.
Timeline:
04m Evans p 3-0
18m Basham t Evans c 10-0
22m Tshituka t 10-5
27m Coleman t 15-5
32m Williams t Evans c 22-5
39m Hendrikse t Musuku c 22-12
46m Julius t Musuku c 22-19
49m Hooker t Musuku c 22-26
56m Carter t 27-26
59m Reed p 30-26
80m Mbatha t Musuku c 30-33
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (Reed 47), Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson (Westwood 46), Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams (Blacker 64); Rhodri Jones (Martinez 51), Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman (Yendle 75), Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Dan Lydiate (Woodman 54)
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Luke Yendle, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Joe Westwood
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Jordan Hendrikse, Eduan Keyter, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Dylan Richardson, Ruan Dreyer, Jason Jenkins, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Emmanuel Tshituka
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Trevor Nyakane, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Lionel Cronje, Francois Venter
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU, 97th league game)
Attendance: 4,591
