NEWPORT Gwent Dragons’ terrific European jaunt ended in a painful 45-16 thrashing as Edinburgh powered their way to the Challenge Cup final.

This time there was to be no miracle escape for the Rodney Parade region’s comeback kids as they suffered the same fate as the class of 2007, who were beaten in the last four of the tournament by heavyweights Clermont Auvergne.

The Dragons have played some wonderful stuff in Europe this season but they bowed out with a meek display at Murrayfield against an Edinburgh side who had far too much muscle up front and plenty of guile in the shape of inspired scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne.

When Brok Harris crashed over to make it 21-16 early in the second half there was a glimmer of hope that the visitors could show the same spirit and tenacity that saw them rally to take the spoils against Cardiff Blues and Leinster but the last quarter turned out to be a (failed) damage limitation job.

Heavy Edinburgh are bound for the Twickenham Stoop after they won the collisions, smashed the Dragons at the set piece, ruthlessly exploited defensive weakness and made them pay for THREE yellow cards.

It will be of scant consolation to the Dragons at the moment but it has still been one hell of a European adventure, starting with a stunning upset against Stade Francais in Paris and featuring a memorable win in the ice cold of Bucharest, a riproaring six-try success at Newcastle and a glorious afternoon when Cardiff Blues were downed at a raucous Rodney Parade.

The competition has helped turn the Dragons boys to men and sadly for this season we have reached the end of the road.

There were wild celebrations at Murrayfield a month ago when Ireland lifted the Six Nations trophy aloft and alas it was the home supporters that were enjoying jubilant scenes with the Dragons fans left to salute a fine effort by their boys.

And what backing it was. They had come by car, bus or plane at short notice, rushing in holiday request forms and frantically booking transport and hotels after learning the destination a week last Sunday, and in the hope of witnessing their team’s finest moment since their 2003 inception.

Instead they ended the game watching a Dragons horror show through their fingers.

The visitors were forced into a late change with Nic Cudd forced to pull out with a foot injury that had troubled him all week. James Benjamin was promoted with veteran lock Ian Gough named among the replacements.

Nonetheless they made a super start with Dorian Jones, preferred as the kicking choice ahead of Jason Tovey and Tom Prydie, booting them into a fourth-minute lead with a sweetly-struck penalty won at the scrum.

However, the visitors were swiftly under the pump courtesy of the Scots’ driving lineout, which forced successive penalties and a yellow card for Taulupe Faletau.

Frankly it was a relief when scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne levelled – the Dragons could easily have been under their sticks but English official JP Doyle decided not to give a penalty try for the maul being collapsed.

It was one-way traffic and Edinburgh soon had the lead that their exploits deserved with blindside flanker Stuart McInally bursting past a woeful tackle by tighthead Dan Way before powering past Tovey and scrum-half Jonathan Evans.

Hidalgo-Clyne added the extras before Jones settled the nerves somewhat with a second penalty, Mr Doyle’s decision irking the home crowd.

But they were soon on their feet again when their side exploited yet more shoddy defence by the Dragons with Hidalgo-Clyne’s blindside snipe catching the visitors napping and giving prolific wing Tim Visser a run-in.

The conversion struck the post but at 15-6 the Dragons were, once again, playing catch-up.

They inched closer through Jones’ right boot but the hosts went straight back down the other end to restore their nine-point advantage with lock James Thomas a tad fortunate not to see yellow after failing to retreat 10 metres with Hidalgo-Clyne scenting the line from a quick tap.

The Dragons were hanging on, struggling at the set piece, kicking poorly into a stiff breeze, being rocked back in the collisions and being led a merry dance by the hugely impressive Hidalgo-Clyne.

And the number 9, the leading scorer in this year’s tournament, added another three-pointer with the final kick of the half after the Dragons scrum had been marmalised.

It was imperative that Jones’ men got the next score – and they did, reaping the rewards of going to the corner with a penalty.

Their well-drilled attacking driving lineout got within yards of the line and after several lunges by the forwards prop Brok Harris barged over for a try that Jones converted for 21-16.

Suddenly the Dragons had hope, a feeling aided by a Hidalgo-Clyne long-range miss and an escape from a series of scrums on their line after Jonathan Evans had been yellow-carded for killing the ball.

However, they promptly shot themselves in the foot.

Tovey failed to find touch with the free-kick for an early shove at the scrum and seconds later was charged down by giant lock Ben Toolis, who profited from the gigantic deadball area.

Hidalgo-Clyne added the extras and then, while Evans was waiting to return, raced over for a seven-pointer after the Dragons were destroyed on their own scrum.

It got worse with Dougie Fife racing over from turnover ball in the 68th minute but thankfully that was the end of the scoring.

The ending of the Challenge Cup 204/15 story was a sorry one but the Dragons deservedly received the acclaim of the proud travelling faithful at the final whistle.

A semi-final defeat hurts deeply but the hope is that the young guns will come back stronger for the experience.

Edinburgh: J Cuthbert (T Brown 50), D Fife, S Beard (T Heathcote 75), A Strauss, T Visser, P Burleigh, S Hidalgo-Clyne (N Fowles 72), A Dickenson (R Sutherland 73), R Ford (N Cochrane 72), WP Nel (J Andress 73), A Bresler (F McKenzie 69), B Toolis, S McInally (C Du Preez 69), R Grant, M Coman (captain).

Scorers: tries – S McInally, T Visser, B Toolis, S Hidalgo-Clyne, D Fife; conversions – S Hidalgo-Clyne (4); penalties – S Hidalgo-Clyne (4)

Dragons: J Tovey (GR Jones 62), T Prydie (A Hewitt 72), T Morgan, J Dixon, H Amos, D Jones, J Evans (L Jones 72), B Harris (L Fairbrother 74), R Thomas (captain), D Way (P Price 48), J Thomas, C Hill (M Screech 62), N Crosswell (I Gough 66), J Benjamin (R Buckley 75), T Faletau.

Scorers: tries – B Harris; conversions – D Jones; penalties – D Jones (3) Yellow cards: T Faletau, J Evans, R Thomas

Referee: JP Doyle (England)

Attendance: 8,231

Star man: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne