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The Rodney Parade region will look on jealously when the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup are played on Easter weekend after falling just short in their bid for the last eight.

They romped to a 33-17 win against a powerful Bordeaux side in Newport on Saturday to finish as runners-up behind Pool One winners Newcastle but results in the evening denied them qualification.

Nonetheless, the manner of the five-try win against a Top 14 side has provided the Dragons with a timely boost after a five-game losing streak that included a hat-trick of festive derby defeats.

Lock Hill, who scored the second try, believes the desire and aggression shown in defence against hefty Bordeaux ball carriers bodes well for the Guinness PRO14 run-in.

"We knew that we had to bring line speed and front up in defence with the rain coming in heavily. We did that and the boys put a really big shift in, we did ourselves proud," said the skipper, who has now linked up with Wales for the Six Nations.

"Our set piece wasn't quite good enough in the first half but it's been a strong point all year so we had a chat at half-time, addressed it and came out on top in the second half.

"That was a pleasing part and so was our defence late on – we defended for our lives and when you have lost five on the bounce that's what you have to do to get the win.

"We are very proud that we won with a bonus point to give ourselves a little hope. We did all we could, so it was a positive changing room."

The Dragons sit sixth in Conference B of the Guinness PRO14 with eight rounds left to add to their tally of two wins but for the next fortnight they play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup with Saturday's trip to Saracens followed by a home encounter with Worcester a week on Friday.

Back row forward Harrison Keddie and full-back Zane Kirchner are poised to return from long-term shoulder injuries, hooker Rhys Buckley played for the first time since September last weekend in the British and Irish Cup after a back problem while centre Tyler Morgan and flanker Ollie Griffiths (both ankle) are making good progress.

The captain is looking forward to the squad being bolstered by some seasoned campaigners after a testing winter.

"We had disappointment in the Christmas derbies and in Bordeaux," admitted Hill. "We've had a massive injury crisis but have tried to keep positive and put performances in.

"We've got a lot of boys coming back who will give us a boost so hopefully we will finish strongly and build into next season.

"The youngsters have done really well, and it's building a squad for the future, but it will be nice to get a couple of experienced faces back."