DRAGONS 17 ULSTER 27 – WHAT WE LEARNED...

A PERFORMANCE THAT SUMMED UP THE WEEK MUCH of the talk in the build-up to the game had been of the Welsh Rugby Union’s proposed takeover of the Dragons.

And in the WRU’s press conference, Dragons’ CEO Stuart Davies revealed that if the takeover did not go ahead, the region would ‘disappear’.

So it was typical that Kingsley Jones’ men produced a spirited performance against an in-form Ulster side who ultimately claimed their sixth successive Guinness Pro12 victory with a win at Rodney Parade. But once again it showed how far away the Dragons are from the league’s big guns, and intervention from the WRU could really kick-start something special for the Gwent region. A CLUB STALWART WHO DESERVES IMMENSE PRAISE LUKE Marshall led Ulster on to the field before kick-off to celebrate his 100th appearance for the Irish province.

And it was fitting that Dragons’ captain Lewis Evans was honoured as he emerged from the tunnel on his 200th game for his home region.

He produced a typical battling performance from the No.8 position as the hosts had the upper hand in the scrum for the majority of the match. And given that Evans is still the right side of 30, he could well be targeting many more milestones with the side he’s represented admirably for more than a decade. REAL SIGNS OF HOPE AFTER A TURBULENT WEEK KINGSLEY Jones’ side went into the game on the back of a seven-game losing run in all competitions while Ulster had won five Guinness Pro12 matches on the bounce ahead of the encounter in south Wales.

Everything pointed to an away win, and in the opening stages it looked for all the world to see that a comfortable bonus-point victory would go the way of Les Kiss’ side.

But - barring a hugely unfortunate bounce that saw Gilroy dart over for the game’s opening score - the Dragons’ try-line was unbreached in the first half as the hosts survived long periods of sustained attacks from the Ulstermen.

You really couldn’t fault the effort of the home team. ZEBRE A MUST-WIN GAME HAVING lost their last five league outings and eight games in a row in all competitions, the alarm bells will certainly be ringing.

With games against Scarlets, Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues following the clash with the Italians, Kingsley Jones’ men will know that perennial strugglers Zebre provide the perfect opportunity for the Dragons’ to put an end to their miserable run of results.