NEWPORT Gwent Dragons fell to their third defeat in as many Magners League games this season when they were thrashed by Heineken Cup champions Munster in Cork last night.

The Dragons possessed little threat and were overrun by the end. They now face a tricky trip to Ulster on Friday to try to break their duck and save a campaign which even at this early stage is disintegrating.

Dragons centre Ashley Smith was a late withdrawal, still feeling a twinge from his calf injury, so Rory Sidey moved infield and Richard Fussell stepped in on the wing. Prop Adam Black was missing fom the bench after a bout of food poisoning.

The rain which had persisted all day mercifully stopped before kick off at a Musgrave Park ground which nowadays makes even Rodney Parade look like a palace.

Just as in their previous two games, the Dragons took the lead when James Arlidge kicked an easy pena @lty.

But it lasted just two minutes for Munster scored in their first attack, though just as with the Scarlets’ second try on Wednesday, the final pass was clearly forward, acknowledged even by Ronan O’Gara, sat just in front of the Press box. But the try by Keith Earls stood and Paul Warwick converted.

Munster attacked from long range, forwards and backs handling, helped by a missed tackle by Arlidge, until Warwick rounded it off with a try between the posts which he converted.

A horrible mix-up between Connor and Rhodri Davies was ruthelessly punished as Munster swept downfield for their third try, Earls rounding it off with his second, Warwick missing the conversion.

Charteris was being used far more in the line-out at last, but the Dragons posed little threat behind, the ball going to ground regularly and they traile )d 19-3 at the interval.

The Dragons at last got on the scoreboard again seven minutes into the second half when Arlidge kicked his second penalty.

Connor put in a couple of testing high kicks, but Munster got their bonus point try when local boy Earls completed his hat-trick, finding only prop Thomas against him, and he raced away for Warwick to convert.

Thomas went off briefly just after, replaced by Gethin Robinson, Steve Jones, Rob Lewis and Gareth Wyatt going on as well followed by Joe Bearman, Adam Brown and Richard Parks in an attempt to shake things up.

But try number five came when O’Sullivan stole away from a Dragons line-out throw, dashed 40 yards and handed on to Warwick for the try, the No 10 also converting. And in the last minute All Black Doug Howlett rubbed salt into the wounds with + two tries in the closing stages, both converted by Warwick.

Munster: K Earls, D Howlett, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling (Denis Hurley 63), P Warwick, T O’Leary (P Stringer 57), M Horan (Darragh Hurley 69), F Sheahan, F Pucciariello, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll (captain), D Ryan, D Wallace (J Melck 56), J O’Sullivan (J Flannery 65).

Scorers -- tries: K Earls (3), P Warwick (2), D Howlett (2); conversions: Warwick (6); penalty: Warwick.

Newport Gwent Dragons: J Arlidge, T Selley (G Wyatt 57), R Sidey, R Davies, R Fussell, S Connor, W Evans (R Lewis 60), H Gustafson, T Willis, captain (S Jones 60), R Thomas (G Robinson 60-67), A Jones (A Brown 67), L Charteris, D Lydiate (R Parks 67), G Webb (J Bearman 67), J Ringer.

Scorers -- penalties: J Arlidge (2).

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales).