THE Dragons finished their preparations for the United Rugby Championship with a spirited performance in a 26-3 defeat to English heavyweights Bath at the Rec.

The Rodney Parade club suffered a third friendly defeat on the spin after being beaten by Hartpury University RFC and Bristol but they did frustrate last season’s English Premiership runners-up.

It was 5-3 at the break to the hosts with the Dragons’ points coming from fly-half Lloyd Evans, who was forced off in the first half along with full-back Cai Evans, before a try by wing Will Muir.

Tedd Hill went over approaching the hour and then further tries followed courtesy of the driving maul by Niall Annett and Guy Pepper.

The Dragons did finish on the attack but were repelled by the Bath defence, with wing Harry Rees-Weldon denied by a superb cover tackle with the clock in the red after a Will Reed kick-pass.

Dai Flanagan’s men can now focus on their URC opener against the Ospreys at Rodney Parade on Saturday, the start of a vital first block of fixtures.

Wales summer tourists Ben Carter, Matthew Screech and Rio Dyer blew away the cobwebs along with summer signing Shane Lewis-Hughes in the back row.