THE scoreline was hardly a fair reflection of the effort Newport Gwent Dragons put into Saturday’s Heineken Cup-tie against champions and European aristocrats Toulouse at Rodney Parade.

Fielding a bench alone that was probably the most powerful and talented in world rugby, the French aces took advantage of conditions ideally suited to their own brand of rugby compared with the downpour which restricted them on their own patch against Wasps the previous week.

But the Dragons still took the lead twice in the opening quarter, trailed by just six points at the interval and though conceding three tries in the second half still scored one themselves and denied Toulouse a bonus point when they were really going for it late on.

In addition, they had to cope with a huge penalty count dished out by New Zealand-born Andrew Small, now resident in England and one of the Premiership officials, which angered coach Paul Turner.

The Dragons were never going to get the better of a side which included 20 internationals in their match day 23 and were able to bring on replacements of the calibre of Vincent Clerc, Byron Kelleher briefly, Census Johnston, Clement Poitrenaud and Yannick Nyanga.

But though still without a number of leading players like their captain Tom Willis, Jason Tovey, Martyn Thomas and Joe Bearman and with Ashley Smith pulling out on the morning of the game with a knee problem plus Luke Charteris and Toby Faletau only just returning from injury it was a tall order just to be able to compete.

The Dragons did that and though under the cosh for much of the second half, had Wayne Evans not lost the ball as he was going for the line after a searing break by Tom Riley, carried on by Phil Price they would have been right in it at 26-19.

But instead, as is often the way when your luck is out, Toulouse countered as almost only they can and scored a delightful try of their own at the other end when full back Maxime Medard finished off a flowing move in a repeat of his effort at Rodney Parade two seasons ago.

That followed a try by impressive French star Thierry Dusautoir when he was driven over after winning a line-out at the tail, but the Dragons still battled back and the in-form Will Harries, though playing out of position, crossed for his fourth try of the season in seven games after Evans and Steve Jones both took quick tap penalties.

But by now Toulouse had transferred their limited type of game in the first half to the more fluent style of the second 40, probably after an interval dressing down from esteemed coach Guy Noves, and No 8 Louis Picamoles, who should surely have earned the man-of-the-match award in place of wing Vilimoni Delasau, got try number three. But there was to be no fourth and a bonus point as the Dragons defended stoically, though after two defeats realistically they are out of this season’s Heineken Cup and will, as they, say now have to focus on the league.

Outside half David Skrela put the lid firmly on any hopes the Dragons may have had with a near perfect display of place kicking as he landed four penalties, a dropped goal and two conversions for a 19-point haul which would have been 25 had he not been yellow carded for pulling Evans back, enabling centre Florian Fritz to kick another two penalties during his absence.

Dragons No 10 Matthew Jones had a better game, scoring 14 points himself from four penalties and a conversion while Riley enjoyed his best performance of the season, Harries and Aled Brew threatened yet again and Dan Lydiate was his usual destructive self.

But the Dragons Achilles’ heel returned to haunt them – the scrum where they were, to put it mildly, pretty much munched. The line-outs went far better, Scott Morgan again playing his heart out, but there was little for watching Wales coach Warren Gatland to get excited about.

Toulouse was a no win game. Aironi next Saturday is a must win game.

Newport Gwent Dragons: W Harries, A Hughes, T Cheeseman, T Riley, A Brew, M Jones, W Evans (captain), P Price (H Gustafson 73), S Jones, B Castle (P Palmer 57), S Morgan, R Sidoli (L Charteris 40), D Lydiate, A Coombs (P Palmer 37-45, T Faletau 54), G Thomas.

Scorers - try: W Harries; conversions: M Jones; penalties (4): Jones.

Toulouse: M Medard, V Delasau (V Clerc 59), F Fritz, J Jauzion (C Poitrenaud 58), C Heymans, D Skrela, N Vergallo (B Kelleher 39-40), D Human (J-B Poux 73), W Servat (V Lacombe 58), Y Montes (C Johnston 58), Y Maestri, R Millochlusky (S Sowerby 63), J Bouilhou, captain (Y Nyanga 54), L Picamoles, T Dusautoir.

Scorers - tries: T Dusautoir, M Medard, L Picamoles; conversions: D Skrela (2); penalties: Skrela (4), F Fritz (2); dropped goal: Skrela.

Referee: Andrew Small (England).

Attendance: 6, 401.

Argus star man: Aled Brew.