Wasteful Dragons slip to home defeat but Wales hopeful shines in front of Gatland

The Dragons fell to a 23-19 home defeat to the Lions

The Dragons were made to rue a number of missed opportunities as they fell to a 23-19 defeat to the Lions at Rodney Parade.

For the second week running, the Dragons found themselves on the wrong side of a narrow defeat to South African opposition and despite creating enough opportunities to win they failed to take them. Warren Gatland, who was in attendance, will have been impressed with the performance of backrower Taine Basham who will be desperate to win back his place in the Wales squad having missed out in the summer, while centres Aneurin Owen and Joe Westwood were also impressive.

But they were up against one of the form sides in the United Rugby Championship and it was the Lions who started quickly as Quan Horn crossed at the corner after a number of powerful pick and goes. The Lions were dominating and then against the run of play backrower Harrison Keddie picked off Steyn's pass and ran in unopposed from 60 metres out for the Dragons' opening try.

Lloyd Evans added the extras and Keddie's try had sparked the Dragons into life. Impressive centre Owen broke clear into the Lions 22 but couldn't quite find his support runner and a try-scoring chance had gone begging.

But, soon after, the Lions were reduced to 14 men when hooker Franco Marais got sent to the sin bin for cynically kicking the ball out of Rhodri Williams' hands while on the floor. The Dragons made the most of their numerical advantage as their driving lineout put the Lions under intense pressure deep in the 22 before Wales hopeful Basham powered over from short-range.

But it was the Lions who took a 13-12 lead into the interval with a successful penalty from Steyn on the stroke of half-time. The Dragons began the second-half like a house on fire as they lay siege to the Lions try line. After a well-worked driving lineout deep in the Lions 22, they went through the phases before Basham smashed over the line for his second try, with Evans adding the extras.

But the Lions hit back with three points from the boot of replacement outside-half Sanele Nohamba before the South African side hit back with a well-worked try. The Lions worked an overlap down the blindside with openside Jarod Cairns brushing aside a weak tackle attempt from Angus O'Brien to score.

To their credit the Dragons fought their way back into the game and won a penalty in the Lions 22 but instead of going for the corner - their maul had gone well up to this point - they opted to go for goal, a decision Flanagan looked to be unhappy about. To compound matters, Will Reed failed to convert the three points meaning the Dragons still needed a try to win the game.

Flanagan's side fought hard to get back into the match but ultimately they had missed another opportunity to beat a South African side in Newport.