Dragons co-captain Angus-O’Brien says there were “lots of positives” for Dragons to take from their loss to Ulster on Friday night.
Following a try inside the first 15 seconds from Aaron Wainwright, Dragons led 7-0 early doors and a lovely grubber from O’Brien put Jared Rosser over for a second score in the first half.
Ulster fought back to lead 35-14 but a try from Shane Lewis-Hughes gave Dragons a chance of two bonus points but Rhodri Williams’ effort with fewer than 15 minutes remaining was ruled out for a forward pass.
“Of course it’s always the plan to score straight away,” quipped O’Brien on Premier Sports when asked if the gameplan was to score early.
“It’s a tough place to come Ulster. For us it was about being really clean in our half and trying to play the game in their half and use our attacking gameplan there.
“In the first half we struggled for possession and credit to Ulster, they were really effective when they had the ball and didn’t really allow us to play that game.
“Looking back there are lots of positives to take from that game, if we get another score, which we potentially should have done, then we’re seven points behind and anything can happen.
“When you get those opportunities, you have to be clinical and you have to take them, we probably weren’t as clinical as we’d have liked to have been and credit to Ulster they were when they were in our 22.”
O’Brien admitted it was “disappointing not to come away with anything” as his side had come so close to a fourth try and what might have proved to be a valuable bonus point or two away from home.
Despite the result, there was cause to celebrate some individual achievements with seven Dragons making their debuts, plus Matthew Screech making his 200th Dragons appearance.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Screechy,” said O’Brien.
“He’s the heart and soul of the club, someone everyone in the squad looks up to.
“He puts his body on the line every week, you can almost guarantee he’ll do that for you.
“Screechy’s been amazing for the Dragons, put a great shift in again tonight and that’s what he does, week in week out.
“It’s an unbelievable achievement for him to do that for Dragons in the modern era and if you ask him he’ll say he has 200 more in him!”
Screech and his teammates will now return home to face the Hollywoodbet Sharks at Rodney Parade on Friday the third of October, where they’ll be looking to bounce back having come so close to defeating the same opposition last season.
“We’ve got a lot of senior guys in this group, a lot of good experience,” said O’Brien.
“It’s the first game of the season and I think we’ve got to learn quickly and there’s an opportunity to go back to Rodney Parade next week and get our season off to a good start.”
Looking back there are lots of positives to take from that game, if we get another score, which we potentially should have done, then we’re seven points behind and anything can happen...
