Centre Fine Inisi scored a superb first half try but Dragons RFC returned home with a 47-7 defeat against a power-packed Vodacom Bulls in the BKT United Rugby Championship at Rodney Parade.
The Men of Gwent were back on home soil after impressive European exploits and Inisi lit up Newport with a brilliant first half score.
But the play-off chasing Bulls were in no mood to leave Wales without maximum points as they pulled clear after the break with a muscular show and series of close range finishes.
The Pretoria outfit came into the game on the back of five wins in their last six URC outings and they extended that run against a hard-working Dragons side as they pulled clear with three tries in the final five minutes.
Jared Rosser saw a superb solo effort ruled out in the second half as Filo Tiatia’s men now turn their attention to Zebre Parma next week before the European semi-final in Montpellier.
Dragons were forced to defend in the opening minutes, but strong work secured a penalty and gave the home side a first attacking platform as Bulls showed their steel.
Bulls won a five-metre scrum after Tinus de Beer had to race back to dot down after Canon Moodie spotted space in behind.
The South Africans turned the screw with a series of punishing carries from a power packed set of forwards before scrum half Papier dived over for his seventh try in his last five appearances.
The home side had a chance to hit back inside two minutes, but Dyer could not control De Beer’s kick ahead with Bulls back field in disarray.
Paea added some bite to the carries and Douglas smashed into contact, but Bulls held firm as Rodney found its voice to back the home side.
Dee brilliantly took a high steepling kick to try and release Dragons into space again, but the alert Devon Williams twice returned long kicks with interest.
Bulls were bringing huge physicality in the opening quarter but could do nothing as a sublime back field move as Inisi was released into space and he tore over. Cai Evans added the extras.
Inisi was a man on a mission as he again tore past men and caused issues in midfield as Bulls had to frantically retreat.
The visitors enjoyed their best passage of play as they kept hold of the ball before the break and a penalty for a late shot saw Pollard take aim but his shot at goal come back off the post.
Another penalty for blocking saw Bulls go to the corner and score when Johan Grobbelaar peeled off and finished from close range to take a 12-7 lead at the break.
Bulls started the second half on the front foot and they earned a penalty as they kept the ball tight and Pollard kicked to the corner as they looked to muscle over.
The resulting maul was held short but back row Marcell Coetzee showed his power and experience to crash over. Pollard converted.
Dyer produced a superb chase to win back a high up and under as Dragons looked to hit back.
They did it in emphatic fashion as they went blind at pace and Rosser cut a scintillating line and raced around Williams to score a stunning solo effort.
However, celebrations were cut short as the TMO stepped in to rule the score out for a knock on to home disgruntlement.
A new front row came on plus Thomas Young into the back row as the home side looked for territory and possession with half an hour to go.
Bulls were looking clinical every time they entered the 22 and they muscled over for a fourth with replacement hooker Marco van Staden bulldozing over.
Dragons were digging deep against a powerful onslaught from the away side and a cross kick from Evans found the dangerous Inisi but his offload to Dyer just failed to find the flier as full pace.
A fifth try from close range came from Van Staden with five minutes left before Devon Williams and added a late flourish.
Timeline:
11m Papier t Pollard c 0-7
23m Inisi t Evans c 7-7
37m Grobbelaar t 7-12
44m Coetzee t Pollard c 7-19
58m Van Staden t Pollard c 7-26
75m Van Staden t Kriel c 7-33
77m Williams t Kriel c 7-40
79m Petersen t Kriel c 7-47
Dragons RFC: Cai Evans, Rio Dyer, Fine Inisi, Fetuli Paea (Ackerman 74), Jared Rosser, Tinus de Beer (Anderson 66), Niall Armstrong (Lloyd 58); Wyn Jones (Jones 51), Elliot Dee (Burrows 51), Chris Coleman (Lewis 47), Levi Douglas (Screech 58), Seb Davies, Ryan Woodman, Harry Beddall (Young 46-58, 66), Harri Keddie
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rhodri Jones, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Thomas Young, Morgan Lloyd, Harri Ackerman, Huw Anderson
Vodacom Bulls: Devon Williams, David Kriel, Stedman Gans, Harold Vorster, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekampm Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Kloppe, Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom
Replacements: Marco van Staden, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Mpilo Gumede, Paul de Wet, Willie le Roux, Sergeal Petersen
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 51st game)
Attendance: 5,892
