Dragons were unable to earn what would have been only their fourth win in the URC season, suffering a 27-34 loss to Connacht at Rodney Parade.

Throughout the match, the home side gave away too many penalties, allowing Connacht to kick to the corner and they were unable to halt their opponents forward dominance.

Ultimately it would be the maul that proved the difference with Connacht substitute Dylan Tierney-Martin’s late score to clinch the victory.

Connacht scored through Shamus Hurley-Langton, Finlay Bealham and John Porch in the first half and captain Dave Heffernan and Tierney-Martin in the second, while Dragons’ tries came from captain Steff Hughes, Rhodri Williams and Rio Dyer.

Before Saturday night, Dragons had been consistently poor in the first half since Christmas Day having conceded 121 points and scored just 26 in the first 40 and against Connacht, they were behind within just four minutes.

A mistake from Rhodri Williams saw his kick go out on the full and from the resulting lineout the men in green drove from the maul before going through the phases and it was Hurley-Langton who stretched over to score from short range.

However, no sooner had they gone behind than Dragons were back level. From their first lineout of the match, Rhodri Williams’ cut out pass found his captain Hughes on a brilliant line, cutting through and then rounding the cover to score.

Dragons were consistently giving away penalties in midfield, offering the visitors easy entries into their 22, whilst their scrum was coming under significant pressure.

Inside 20 minutes the visitors had a second. Young scrum-half Matthew Devine breaking though and coming close, before Ireland tight-head Finlay Bealham pounced from close range.

After that try and speaking on S4C, Dragons forwards coach Luke Narraway said his side needed to be “more accurate”, adding they had been on the wrong end of some “dubious refereeing decisions” in a typically inconsistent display from Italian Federico Vedovelli.

Dragons could only blame themselves for the next try, a cheap penalty given away by Cai Evans, providing Connacht an entry into their 22 and with the visitors going through the phases the defensive line was drawn narrow, with Bundee Aki’s looping pass finding John Porch to score in the corner.

The home side were having their moments, scrum-half Williams breaking through and an interception from Aneurin Owen showing promise but on both occasions, Dragons were unable to maintain momentum with passes hitting the turf.

Having been under pressure for most of the half, Dragons grabbed a try of their own, fortunate to win a penalty at scrum time they kicked deep into Connacht’s 22 and Rhodri Williams broke from the back of a maul stepping inside the cover to score.

With Cai Evans’ touchline conversion, Dragons trailed by just five at half time and were somewhat fortunate to be so close.

Within a minute of the second half, Dragons flanker Sean Lonsdale was lucky not to receive a yellow card for a clear-out on Devine, which halted another promising attack.

It was a short reprieve however, as Connacht kicked to the corner and after repetitive penalties Elliott Dee, on his 150^th appearance for the region, saw yellow for coming in from the side of a maul.

From the next maul Dee’s opposite number Heffernan was the beneficiary from another dominant maul as the visitors claimed the bonus point with 35 minutes remaining.

Soon the Williams boys combined for Dragons and to lethal effect. First scrum-half Rhodri made another brilliant break, before the ball was spread to Jordan whose grubber kick through was pounced on by Dyer to score.

However, no sooner had Dragons got themselves and the crowd back level than they shot themselves in the foot once more.

After a brilliant turnover from Owen, they were too slow to capitalise on turnover possession and Jordan Williams’ kick was charged down, leading to a scrum and yet another penalty, this time in front of the posts which former Dragons man JJ Hanrahan converted.

Scores were back level soon later with Evans converting a penalty of his own, but with Connacht under significant pressure, a serious looking injury to Hanrahan prompted a TMO review and Jordan Williams was penalised, surprisingly so.

Minutes later, Ben Carter went upright into a tackle on Connacht wing Shane Jennings, receiving a red card for direct shoulder to head contact, meaning the home side were down to 14 for the final 10 minutes.

From the resulting lineout there would only be one result. Connacht powering through weak Dragons maul defence and substitute Tierney-Martin grabbing the visitors fifth and decisive try.

Dragons: (14) 27 Tries: Hughes, R. Williams, Dyer, Cons: Cai Evans x3, Pen: Evans x2.

Connacht: (19) 34 Tries: Hurley-Langton, Bealham, Porch, Heffernan, Tierney-Martin Cons: Hanrahan x2, Forde. Pen: Hanrahan.

Dragons: J. Williams; Dyer, Hughes, Owen (Westwood 75mins), E. Rosser; Evans, R. Williams (Hope 75mins); Jones (Martinez 59mins), Dee, Coleman, Carter, Screech, Lonsdale, Basham, Wainwright (Nott HT).

Connacht: O’Halloran; Jennings, T. Farrell, Aki, Porch; Hanrahan (Forde 67mins), Devine (Blade 63mins); Buckley (Dooley 6mins), Heffernan (Tierney-Martin 67mins), Bealham (Illo 63mins), Joyce, Thornbury (Dowling 51mins), Hurley-Langton, Oliver (Butler 63mins), Prendergast (Boyle 12mins).