AT almost the same spot as Luke Yendle crashed over on opening weekend, it was Fez Mbatha’s turn to be the last-gasp hero and crush the Dragons’ hopes of a statement win.
The Rodney Parade club had to settle for a pair of bonus points after being edged out 33-30 by the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The Dragons were close to claiming a first South African scalp since the ‘big four’ headed to Europe to replace the Cheetahs and Kings.
Tries by flanker Taine Basham, tighthead Chris Coleman and scrum-half Rhodri Williams in the first half and then by lock and captain Ben Carter in the second meant they were 30-26 up in the closing stages.
The Sharks had scored tries through flanker Vincent Tshituka, scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, centre Jurenzo Julius and wing Ethan Hooker, then scored a fifth in the 85th minute.
The pressure had ramped up in the closing stages and then hooker Mbatha powered over to spark South African celebrations.
There were some huge displays by the Dragons - flankers Basham and Shane Lewis-Hughes, locks Matthew Screech and Carter, hooker Brodie Coghlan, centre Aneurin Owen and scrum-half Rhodri Williams - but they were denied a statement win in the URC.
GETTING PHYSICAL
The Dragons have made huge progress with their hitting power and are keeping it going for longer.
They stayed in the fight against the Ospreys to be able to steal the spoils and then they frustrated Leinster in the first half in Dublin.
This was another step forward against a strong Sharks side and the winning try showed that.
Yes, the South Africans eventually powered over but they had to attack for two and a half minutes and 20 phases.
The Dragons had to make almost twice the number of tackles as the Sharks, 190 to 103, but missed just 26 to the Sharks' 21.
In attack they scored three of their four tries by hammering away at the line, retaining the ball, staying calm and relishing the collisions.
There were some huge displays with locks Carter and Screech putting in big shifts – the return to fitness of Steve Cummins will give some extra power off the bench – while abrasive hooker Coghlan continued his impressive start to the campaign by also playing the full 80.
Add Aaron Wainwright, Elliot Dee and Leon Brown, who fell ill on Friday night, into the mix and the Dragons can up it again.
A NIGHTMARE SPELL
The game was decided at the end of the second half yet it was the score in the closing stages of the first half that arguably allowed the Sharks to be in the position to steal the spoils.
The Dragons led 22-5 when scrum-half Rhodri Williams scored a fantastic try that Lloyd Evans converted.
The clock was on 38:31 when Sharks fly-half Siya Masuku restarted the game with Aneurin Owen claiming the ball and then Williams clearing.
One strong defensive set was needed but instead Harry Wilson, who was hooked early in the second half, missed a tackle on Julius and it proved to be costly.
The centre dashed through a gap then slick handling by Hooker and Andre Esterhuizen led to Jaden Hendrikse going over. Well taken but started through a mistake.
The mood changed as the teams headed to the changing rooms with the score 22-12, then the Sharks came flying out in the second half to take the lead 26-22.
In another sign of progress from last season, the Dragons responded to put themselves back in a winning position, albeit aided by a second Sharks yellow card, but they had been in command shortly before the break.
SHANE’S WORLD
The Dragons have upped their physicality this season and Shane Lewis-Hughes is at the heart of that.
The blindside has made an excellent start to life in Newport after making the move from Cardiff, showing up strongly at the lineout and hitting hard around the pitch.
Lewis-Hughes had a slightly different role against the Sharks due to the inclusion of Dan Lydiate and he came up with three turnovers and made five successful carries.
The blindside produced an abrasive, aggressive performance that allowed Taine Basham to get back to his best, with his dynamism rightly earning the official man of the match award.
“Taine was all-action, as we know he can be, and that’s the start from him and he has to grow from it,” said head coach Dai Flanagan.
“Shane’s been excellent too. He had a massive impact at the start of that game, with two turnovers and set piece work. He has transformed the maul defence with Sam Hobbs as coach.
“It gives confidence to our pack to believe if teams want to go five metres out last minute, we will stop them.”
KICKING THEMSELVES
The Dragons’ kicking out of hand was excellent, especially in the first half when Angus O’Brien produced a peach of a 50:22 and Rhodri Williams did a delightful kick from the base of a ruck to within five of the Sharks’ line.
However, they missed 10 points from the tee with Lloyd Evans getting off to a shaky start and Will Reed pulling a long-range but central effort in the final quarter that would have pushed the lead to seven.
The Dragons scored more points than they did in any game last season but their total should have been greater.
The Lions ran amok against Edinburgh in Johannesburg when scoring eight tries in a 55-21 hammering, so Flanagan’s side will need to take every opportunity that comes their way on Sunday.
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