By David Williams
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan insists there are still reasons to be cheerful – even though his team lost part three of their season-opening trilogy.
The Sharks did to the Dragons what they had done to the Ospreys in the opening round of the BKT United Rugby Championship by striking in the final play to win a pulsating game 33-30 at the weekend.
The reigning Currie Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup champions only led for five minutes during the game until their final salvo as they extended their winning run over their Welsh hosts to four matches.
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It leaves the Dragons back in 11th place in the URC table as they have followed their opening weekend win with back-to-back defeats.
Flanagan admitted: “It’s just hard to swallow when you lose that late on. It’s the other side of it after we beat the Ospreys late on in Round 1.
“But there is lots to be optimistic about. It was a step forward.
“It was that ten minute blip either side of half-time and some skill-set errors that have cost us the outcome at the end.
“We’re really focused on process not outcome. We must be because we don’t just want to win these games; we want to win a lot more games. If we focus on outcome week by week we will never grow.
“Certain parts of the game were positive. Our scrum held out well, our launch attack was good, our physicality was there against one of the most powerful teams in the league. We’ve got to continue to do that.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks' Last-Minute Heist!
The Sharks steal a last minute victory from Dragons to secure their first win of the season. @Vodacom #URC | #DRAvSHA pic.twitter.com/IhTTqhjujc
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 5, 2024
Flanagan’s home side breathed real fire in the first half with the returning Taine Basham in great form.
The Wales flanker was joined by tight head prop Chris Coleman and scrum half Rhodri Williams in crossing the South African’s line in the first half.
Those three tries took the Dragons into a 22-5 lead, yet by the break the Sharks were very much back in it at 22-12.
Two tries in quick succession at the start of the second half from centre Jurenzo Julius and wing Ethan Hooker, both converted by Siya Masuku finally edged the Sharks ahead 26-22 in the 50th minute.
It didn’t stay that way for long as inspirational home skipper Ben Carter barged his way over for the bonus-point try just before the hour.
That put the Dragons a point ahead and Will Reed added a penalty to make it 30-26.
Carter’s men were forced to dig deep on their own line to keep the Sharks at bay as the game continued to live on a knife edge with 10 minutes to go.
But in a tense finale it was the Sharks who struck five minutes into injury time when replacement hooker Fez Mbatha burrowed over and was awarded the try by the TMO to steal the victory.
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