Scrum half Che Hope grabbed a dream first half try double - but the long wait for success over Cardiff Rugby continued in dramatic late fashion after a 22-19 loss in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Cardiff Arms Park.
An engaging and evenly contested opening period saw the teams locked at 12-12 after the brace from in-form number nine Hope – who now has four tries in his last two games.
In the second half the hosts pulled clear in the capital to seemingly take control before a late twist.
A penalty try with just over two minutes to play secured the Men of Gwent at least a losing point before five minutes of nerve shredding stoppage time pressure saw Cardiff just hold out.
A penalty try with two minutes to go assured the Men of Gwent with a losing point and five minutes of stoppage time pressure saw Cardiff just hold out.
Head Coach Filo Tiatia made four changes to the side that defeated Connacht last time out with Wales international back row Aaron Wainwright returning and Thomas Young at openside. The other change in the pack is a call-up for hooker George Roberts to make his full debut. The final change came on the wing where Huw Anderson was called up.
Dragons were direct in the opening minutes with Levi Douglas and Ryan Woodman running hard and Angus O’Brien kicking the game’s first penalty deep into the 22.
The forwards muscled up close with Roberts and Wainwright prominent, but the visitors were penalised in the shadow of the home posts as the early opportunity went begging.
A cross-field kick from Aneurin Owen looked to have lost possession, only for Mason Grady to fumble the ball. Fine Inisi took the ball on with one hand and released the supporting Dyer and, when he was taken down, his offload found Hope to dive over.
Dragons were enjoying large chunks of possession early on with Hope uploading in the tackle as the home side were pinned back.
Cardiff looked to respond after 15 minutes as they found numbers out wide and Josh Adams kicked ahead into space before they went right again and Ben Thomas saw his long pass find the touchlines.
A penalty for a high shot saw Cardiff opt for the corner and when they worked the ball in field it was eventually Javan Sebastian who crashed over. Sheedy converted for a 7-5 lead.
A scrappy period from both teams in the middle of the field ended when Dan Thomas swooped for a breakdown penalty. Cardiff built pressure and scored a second try through Alex Mann from close range.
Dragons, though, hit back within two minutes as De Beer put a lovely kick in behind and Dyer collected and fired a pass to Hope to score his second of the afternoon.
The game was switching from end to end as the home side fired again with Grady sitting down a tackler. The big wing was then shunted into touch as he went for the corner.
An early penalty at the start of the second half saw Cardiff rumble up close but Dragons were given a let off as back row Thomas knocked on as he stretched and dived over the line.
But the reprieve was only short-lived as patient play from Ben Thomas saw him release Josh Adams down the left flank to scamper over.
A trio of changes saw Wyn Jones, Harri Keddie and Matthew Screech all introduced.
Rob Hunt bust through the middle and was hauled down by Faletau, but a superb offload kept the move alive before a handling error halted momentum.
Keddie was yellow carded after referee Adam Jones lost patient with the away infringements, and the home side sensed the chance to put clean air between the sides.
The game was delayed by an injury to Hunt, who was carried off to warm applause and replaced by Cebo Dlamini.
Cardiff looked set to score a fourth as they found themselves inches from the line. But spilled ball saw Hope hack clear and make 50 metres.
This time it was Dragons who missed an opportunity as they battled up close but lost the ball in the tackle.
The visitors were back to a full quota with 14 remaining, but it was Cardiff in the ascendancy and when they won another penalty close to the line they took the points to make it a two score game.
A brilliant break from Anderson and Rhodri Willians from deep saw Dragons race up field and win a penalty with two and a half minutes to go.
Tinus de Beer then went for the line with a quick tap and after consultation with the TMO a penalty try was awarded and Josh McNally was yellow carded for not retreating.
One final roll of the dice saw a dramatic final passage of play go on for over five minutes into stoppage time, but Cardiff held firm under huge late pressure.
Timeline:
08m Hope t 0-5
20m Sebastian t Sheedy c 7-5
29m Mann t 12-5
31m Hope t O’Brien c 12-12
47m Adams t Sheedy c 19-12
70m Sheedy p 22-12
78m Penalty t 22-19
Cardiff: Cam Winnett: Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Mason Grady; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Rhys Barratt, Liam Belcher, Javan Sebastian, Josh McNally, Rory Thornton, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Sam Wainwright, George Nott, Alun Lawrence, James Botham, Johan Mulder, Jacob Beetham
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Huw Anderson, Fine Inisi (Richards 61), Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer, Tinus de Beer, Che Hope (Williams 67); Rodrigo Martinez (Jones 48), George Roberts (Scarf 67), Robert Hunt (Dlamini 59), Levi Douglas (Screech 48), Ben Carter, Ryan Woodman (Lewis-Hughes 59), Thomas Young (Keddie 48), Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Sam Scarfe, Wyn Jones, Cebo Dlamini, Matthew Screech, Harri Keddie, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Rhodri Williams, David Richards
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 47th game)
Attendance: 12,125
