DRAGONS 13 TOULOUSE 26

Once again they gave it everything and enjoyed a purple patch towards the end of the first half when they had the three-time European champions rocking, but it wasn’t enough to secure the spoils.

Even a losing bonus point was just beyond them and as they are now 12 points behind Toulouse in their pool with just two games left next month they obviously can’t catch them - hence the playing for pride.

Their commitment and never-say-die attitude stretched the French aces who were unable to obtain the maximum five points because the Dragons often played like men possessed, sterling again in defence and ever willing all over the field.

Leading the way was Joe Bearman, playing at number eight, who was at his barnstrorming, buccaneering best.

One of his many charges put paid to Toulouse outside half David Skrela after only eight minutes and so well did he play that he would not have looked out of place in the French team - there can hardly be any higher compliment.

But the whole Dragons eight were outstanding as they gained more than their share of territory, the front row unyielding with Rhys Thomas back to his best, Luke Charteris a force in the line-out, twice stealing opposition line-out ball, Hoani MacDonald prominent throughout and Colin Charvis as big a nuisance as usual.

It was highly appropriate, therefore, that the forwards fashioned and finished off for the team’s only try - and they were so close to another in a carbon copy of the first.

Bearman took a line-out near the tail, Charvis acted as the link and Thomas powered triumphantly over the line with James Arlidge, a late replacement for Shaun Connor who withdrew with back spasms, converting.

Minutes later they almost did it again in an identical training ground move, but this time the prop lost the ball as he was going over the line. Another try then and anything could have happened.

But Arlidge still struck a penalty over via an upright to narrow the gap to 16-10 at the interval and everything to play for.

But, just as they did in the first half, Toulouse struck early and decisively.

After just four minutes lightning quick French wing Maxime Medard finished off a terrific counter by chipping ahead and pouncing for a try. And the second half was only three minutes old when some lovely slick handling put opposite wing Cedric Heymans over in the corner, full back Clement Poitrenaud prominent and Byron Kelleher twice throwing out telling passes, the first short and the second long.

Just a glance at those names said it all - Heymans, Poitrenaud, Kelleher, all magnificent players, and then there were Jauzion, Fritz, Pelous, Nyanga etc, etc. And when Skrela limped off Toulouse brought on Freddie Michalak - ridiculous.

Asking the Dragons to compete with a team like that, never mind beat them was really off the clock.You are just not comparing like with like, and despite the efforts of the pack there was a glaring imbalance in midfield and out wide.

Whereas Toulouse possessed bags of skill, their slickness, their movement often a delight, the Dragons looked pedestrian in midfield and short of real pace out wide.

That in a nutshell was the difference between the teams, and the Dragons were taught a sharp lesson, but whether they are in a position to do anything about it is another matter.

There was to be no choking by French opposition on away soil this time, and Dragons officials who accompanied Toulouse on their coach trip to the ground from their Bryn Meadows base warned as much, saying you could have heard a pin drop all the way in, such was their focus.

And so it proved as they got off the mark with that early Medard try. Skrela converted and then replacement Michalak put over two penalties and a dropped goal to stretch the lead to 16-0.

But the Dragons refused to lie down and hit back with their 10-point burst before Heymans struck early in the second half.

Arlidge replied with his second penalty, but Medard was on the end of a Jauzion chip through for his second try and the man-of-the-match award, though Bearman pushed him all the way.

Newport Gwent Dragons: J Tovey, G Wyatt, R Sidey, A Smith, T Selley (R Davies 54), J Arlidge, W Evans (R Lewis 59), A Black, T Willis, captain (S Jones 78), R Thomas (G Robinson 75), A Jones (D Lydiate 54), L Charteris, H MacDonald, J Bearman, C Charvis (J Ringer 59).

Scorers — try: R Thomas; conversion: J Arlidge; penalties: Arlidge (2).

Toulouse: C Poitrenaud, M Medard (G du Toit 78), F Fritz, Y Jauzion (captain), C Heymans, D Skrela (F Michalak 8). B Kelleher, J-P Poux (D Human 44), W Servat (V Lacombe 75), B Lecouls (S Perugini 52), F Pelous (G Lamboley 68), P Albacete, Y Nyanga (J Bouilhou 55), S Sowerby, T Dusautoir.

Scorers — tries: M Medard (2), C Heymans; conversion: D Skrela; penalties: F Michalak (2); dropped goal: Michalak.Referee: Mr A Rolland (Ireland).

Argus star man: Joe Bearman Attendance: 6,108.