Dragons agonisingly missed out on a first home win of the BKT United Rugby Championship season following a 17-17 draw against Hollywoodbets Sharks at Rodney Parade.
First half tries from Aaron Wainwright and Angus O’Brien had seen Dragons lead only for Sharks to fightback and finish the first half 17-14 ahead.
Only a single Tinus de Beer penalty was scored in the second half in a game which went right down to the wire.
“It was definitely there for the taking - for both sides,” said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia.
“We weren’t great at times in the game, kick-off in testing conditions and our discipline let us down again in the first half. When you concede nine penalties in the first half you’re going to be under pressure.
“But when we got in the right areas of the field, we applied pressure and we scored points.
“I felt for the group who showed a lot of grit and character, playing the last six or seven minutes with 14 players. We took Fine (Inisi) who was playing well, but we just needed eight forwards up front.
“We came pretty close, maybe a metre away from the try line and it could have been a different story, but that’s footy, we’ve got to be clinical and take the opportunities when we have them and that was one, there were many more that we had and didn’t take them.”
There were plenty of positives however from the game with Tongan internationals Fetuli Paea and Fine Inisi, impressing on their home debuts.
“In those conditions it’s a fight, it’s a battle and there were plenty of ebbs and flows in the game,” said Dragons centre Aneurin Owen on S4C.
“I thought we would come away with the win at the end there but there were plenty of positives to take away.
“The players who came in over the summer have added a lot of power on the gain line.
“Fetuli played really well in the first half and it’s exciting.”
Tiatia added: “I was really proud of both the Tongan boys, particularly Fetuli who debuted for the club tonight. He picked up an injury which is unfortunate so we will get him scanned and see how severe it is.
“Both of them were outstanding on the gainline, good evasive feet from Fine and Fetuli and both showed class in moments and things to build-on.”
Dragons now head to Glasgow next weekend, before back-to-back home derbies against Cardiff and Osprey to finish October and the first block of games before the international break.
“There’s no easy games in this competition,” added Owen.
“Every game is a battle and we’re just trying to learn each week how to grow that balance and how we put pressure on the teams we play.
“It’ll be a physical test next week but it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
When we got in the right areas of the field, we applied pressure and we scored points... I felt for the boys who showed a lot of grit and character, playing the last six or seven minutes with 14 players...
