Newport Gwent Dragons threw away a 14-7 interval lead to fall agonisingly short of achieving their first away Heineken Cup victory against English opposition at Gloucester last night.

Ironically the man who put the boot into the Dragons was a Welshman, former Cardiff Blues outside half Nicky Robinson kicking four penalties and a conversions for a 14-point match haul, two more than James Arlidge managed for the Dragons.

The Dragons at least had the satisfaction of gaining a losing bonus point which could be crucial in deciding the outcome of the group and they also scored two tries to one.

They silenced the Kingsholm faithful for long periods with some excellent rugby, often loking dangerous behind the scrum and Gloucester will be mighty relieved to get away with this one.

The Dragons adapted well to the intimidating Kingsholm atmosphere as a packed crowd roared Gloucester on at every ˙opportunity. Rob Sidoli soared to win successive line-outs though the suspect scrum again creaked ominously from an early stage.

But the Dragons were playing methodically, looking for openings though Jason Tovey wastefully kicked directly into touch when an overlap was possible.

The Dragons weathered a strong home attack and launched one of their own, Arlidge kicking long to touch before Gavin Thomas brilliantly supported his backs, Tom Riley and Wayne Evans both almost breaking through.

More scrum problems followed, but this time it was Gloucester’s All Blacks prop Greg Somerville who went down.

Dragons No 8 Joe Bearman had to go off for running repairs to a cut head, replaced by Lewis Evans, but Gloucester turned up the heat with a series of drives, ˙Fijian flanker Akapusi Qera to the fore, supported by some pin-point kicking by Robinson.

And they took the lead after 24 minutes when powerhouse winger Lesley Vainikola brushed off two tackles and raced clear, centre Tim Molenaar was up in support and Qera scorched over for a try which Robinson converted.

Bearman returned to the fray while Gloucester replaced lock Alex Brown with Wales international Will James - the prelude to a furious Dragons assault.

Aled Brew, Luke Charteris, Ali McKenzie and Aled Brew all had a dash for the line and Richard Fussell opted to go it alone with an overlap beckoning before Charteris barged over.

The referee went to the TMO who ruled no try, but it didn’t matter because from the scrum Bearman picked up and transferred to Arlidge who forced his way over for a try which he also converted.

And the Dragons stormed ahead after 34 minutes piling on heavy pressure and when scrum half Evans flipped the ball up Bearman took it in his stride and reached out for the line and a try which Arlidge converted.

A sizeable Dragons contingent in the crowd started singing ‘Hymns and Arias’ with the renowned Shed silenced for the time being at least as heir side trailed 14-7 at the interval.

The Dragons changed both props at half-time for injury reasons, Hugh Gustafson replacing McKenzie while Peter Bracken took over from Nigel Hall to complete an incredible turaround – a week ago he was playing amateur rugby for Galwegians in Ireland.

But the Dragons went off the boil when it should have been all systems go and Robinson punished them by kicking two penalties in the first 11 minutes of the second half to narrow the gap to a point.

They were both from short range, but three minutes later he landed a much harder effort to regain the lead for his side.

Arlidge went within a whisker of snatching it back when he struck an upright with a difficult long range effort, but he had more success a minute later when he put a penalty over from the other side of the field to give the Dragons a one-point advantage.

The Dragons brought on Martyn Thomas and Hoani MacDonald for Jason Tovey and Dan Lydiate while the kicking battle continued, Robinson firing just wide.

Gloucester stepped it up going into the final ten minutes as the Dragons began to flag and Robinson booted his fourth penalty, awarded for offside, just enough to ensure victory – but it was the one that got away for the Dragons.

Gloucester: T Voyce, C Sharples (J May 71), J Simpson-Daniel, T Molenaar, L Vainikolo, N Robinson, R Lawson (D Lewis 66), A Dickinson (P Capdevielle 57), S Lawson, G Somerville (P Doran-Jones 70), D Attwood, A Brown (W James 24), A Strokosch, G Delve, captain (A Hazell 70), A Quera.

Scorers -- try: A Qera; conversion: N Robinson; penalties: Robinson (4).

Newport Gwent Dragons: J Tovey (M Thomas 52), A Brew, T Riley, A Smith, R Fussell, J Arlidge (S Connor 75), W Evans (D Lee 60), A McKenzie (H Gustafson 40), S Jones, N Hall (P Bracken 40), R Sidoli, L Charteris (captain), D Lydiate (H MacDonald 63), J Bearman (L Evans 16-24), G Thomas.

Scorers - tries: J Arlidge, J Bearman; conversions: Arlidge (2); penalty: Arlidge.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).

Attendance: 11, 846.