Dragons’ Euro dreams come to an end

DRAGONS ........................ 22 ULSTER ............................ 26

THE Dragons’ remote hopes of qualifying for next season’s European Champions Cup were extinguished as Ulster ran out winners at the Principality Stadium.

Due to the poor state of their Rodney Parade, the Dragons have been forced to play their last three home league fixtures at the national ground.

They needed to win them all to stand any chance of qualification but they fell at the first hurdle as Ulster surprisingly fielded a near first-choice side.

Stewart Moore scored two of Ulster’s tries, Alby Mathewson and John Andrew the others, with Michael Lowry adding three conversions.

Ollie Griffiths, Jonah Holmes and Rio Dyer scored the Dragons’ tries with Sam Davies kicking a penalty and a conversion. Josh Lewis added a conversion.

Ulster opened the scoring in the 14th minute with an excellent try as Irish international full-back Jacob Stockdale brushed aside some weak tackling to provide Mathewson with an easy run-in.

Ulster were now in their stride and it came as no surprise when Moore scythed through the defence for a second try.

Davies responded with a penalty as the visitors took a 14-3 lead into the break.

Three minutes after the restart, Dragons lost flanker Harri Keddie to a yellow card for a deliberate offside and Andrew immediately finished off a driving line-out to leave the hosts with a mountain to climb.

After 50 minutes the Dragons brought on Nick Tompkins just in time to see Griffiths force his way over from close range.

But a telegraphed pass from Davies was intercepted by Moore who raced 55 metres to score his second.

The Dragons rallied in the closing stages with tries from Dyer and Holmes to earn a deserved losing bonus point.