DRAGONS Premiership Select slipped to a third defeat out of three in the British & Irish Cup against Yorkshire Carnegie at Huddersfield YMCA, writes Chris Smart.

James Chapron’s side twice had the lead in the first half thanks to tries from scrum-half Callum Morris and full-back Joe Goodchild, but ultimately it was Carnegie – led by outside centre Chris Elder’s hat-trick – who ran out victorious as they pulled away after the break.

However, further tries from centre Chay Smith and replacement James Leadbeater ensured the Dragons would not leave empty handed, but this defeat is a further blow to their hopes of qualifying from Pool 3.

The Dragons dominated the early exchanges and went ahead when Morris raced over in the corner although Dorian Jones missed the conversion.

Harry Newborn replied with an unconverted score for Carnegie after a strong rolling maul, before a cross-field kick from the Dragons was caught by Goodchild who darted over.

But further first-half tries for Carnegie from Harry Robinson and then Elder handed them a 17-10 half-time advantage. Harry Davey added the extras.

That lead was extended to 24-10 just after the restart following a good break from Matt Smith who offloaded to full-back Darren Atkins. Davey was on target with the conversion.

Smith got the Dragons back to within nine points with a third try for the visitors 10 minutes into the second half, which again went unconverted, but that was as close as they would get as the English Championship side began to turn the screw.

Winger Louis Brown raced over before Elder intercepted and sprinted home from his own half for his second try of the match to make it 36-15 as the game entered the final quarter, with Davey converting the latter’s score.

Elder completed his hat-trick, with Davey converting, before Leadbeater secured the Dragons a consolation bonus point with their fourth try, which was converted by replacement Steffan Jones.

Scorers, Yorkshire Carnegie – Tries: H Newborn, H Robinson, C Elder (3), D Atkins, L Brown; Cons: H Davey (4)

Dragons PS – Tries: C Morris, J Goodchild, C Smith, J Leadbeater; Con: S Jones

Yorkshire Carnegie: D Atkins; L Brown, C Elder, F Burdon, H Robinson; H Davey, O Fox; C Capps, H Newborn, J Thraves, D Sanderson, M Smith, B West, J Bainbridge (capt), L Wilson.

Reps: J Poole, W Vaughan, X Valentine, E Ward, T Lloyd, S Wolstenholme, M Waters.

Dragons PS: J Goodchild; R Dyer, C Smith, C Edwards, B Nightingale; D Jones, C Morris; P Price E Shipp, G Harris, H Williams, J Skinner, L Greggains (capt), T Basham, I Jones.

Reps: W Griffiths, J Reynolds, K Bale, T Fricker, M Burgess, J Leadbeater, S Jones.