NEWPORT Gwent Dragons’ hopes of repeating their European exploits by qualifying for the knockout stages of the LV= Cup were ended by holders Exeter, who muscled their way to a 37-32 victory at Rodney Parade.

The Dragons showed plenty of spirit to make a game of it in the closing stages after being 30-13 down on the hour but in the end the power of the Chiefs earned the spoils.

Lyn Jones’ men showed tremendous resolve to earn two bonus points but they cannot now overhaul Pool One leaders Saracens.

The Dragons’ mixture of fringe players and youngsters took their time to grow into the game whereas the Chiefs fitted straight into the direct approach that has brought them great success in the Aviva Premiership.

The Dragons have made great strides up front this season, possessing an excellent attacking driving lineout while frequently enjoying at least parity at the scrum.

However, it was like a flashback against the Chiefs, who frequently marched their way forward at the set piece with their impressive tight five.

The Dragons didn’t lack endeavour and had their moments in attack as the game broke up but they could have few arguments about the result.

They headed into the game on a run of six wins from eight games, a streak that had been earned by fielding a settled line-up.

As such they used the opportunity to give game-time to those that had been patiently waiting on the sidelines, along with a pair of debutants.

Ebbw Vale’s South African centre Carl Meyer was given a chance in midfield while Nick Crosswell made his bow at blindside flanker.

It was the New Zealander that caught the eye with a number of strong charges around the fringes and an appetite for the graft, although his lungs will be burning after a first 80 minutes for some time.

The Dragons, with Crosswell prominent, made a lively start only to gift the Chiefs an opening score.

First fly-half Dorian Jones and then number eight Andy Powell ran laterally and the former Wales number eight then threw an awful offload that rebounded off his own boot straight into the hands of former Dragon Adam Hughes, who raced home down the left wing.

Ceri Sweeney, another old boy, added the extras from the touchline and then it was once again that man Hughes that set up the second score.

The centre showed too much pace for Meyer and when his 50-metre run was ended just shy of the line the quick ball gave wing Fetu’u Vainikolo the simplest of scores.

Wing Tom Prydie traded penalties with Sweeney to make 15-3 after a quarter but the hosts were lucky to still be in the game after Dorian Jones criminally missed touch with a rushed penalty that went straight into the arms of Wales wing Tom James, who was only denied by the embarrassed fly-half’s desperate tap tackle.

The hosts’ bright start had fizzled out and it came as no surprise when their scrum travails led to them having to face a spell down to 14 men.

Former Chief Lloyd Fairbrother, a tighthead playing loosehead, was yellow-carded after an uncomfortable opening half hour against the hefty Tom Francis, who is on Wales boss Warren Gatland’s radar courtesy of his grandmother from Abercrave.

Thankfully the visitors failed to capitalise on their advantage and it was just 18-6 at the break after Sweeney and Prydie traded penalties.

Even with the wind at their backs there would have to be an almighty swing for the Dragons to keep alive their qualification hopes.

Instead it was more of the same when Exeter scored a beautifully-crafted third with wing James finished off after Sweeney and full-back Byron McGuigan combined down the left.

However, the hosts struck back approaching the hour to make it 25-13 when lock Cory Hill was at the bottom of a drive from a five-metre lineout, Prydie converting excellently.

It looked grim when back row forward Sam Skinner muscled his way over to make it 30-13 on the hour back to the Dragons’ great credit they came storming back.

First replacement scrum-half Luc Jones went over after centre Ashley Smith cut a lovely angle close to the line and then conjured an offload.

Prydie converted and then impressive replacement flanker Scott Matthews showed the powerful running that has made him such a hit at Cross Keys to make it 30-25.

But just as the Dragons were dreaming of an unlikely success Exeter secured the spoils, fittingly thanks to their scrum winning a penalty try.

The hosts had the final say when Jason Tovey finished smartly in the left corner from Matthews’ pass but it wasn’t enough to prevent next Sunday’s clash with London Welsh being a dead rubber.

Dragons: J Tovey, T Prydie, C Meyer, A Smith (captain), A Hewitt, D Jones (A O’Brien 46), R Rees (L Jones 55), L Fairbrother (D Young 61), H Gustafson (R Buckley 50), D Way (O Evans 46), M Screech (J Davies 65), C Hill, N Crosswell, J Benjamin (S Matthews 65), A Powell (O Evans 28- 34).

Scorers: tries – C Hill, L Jones, S Matthews, J Tovey; conversions – T Prydie (3); penalty – T Prydie (2)

Chiefs: B McGuigan, F Vainikolo (L May 61), I Whitten (M Bodilly 62), A Hughes, T James, C Sweeney (captain), H Thomas (S Townsend 79), B Sturgess (J Woolmore 79), E Taione (G Bateman 65), T Francis (J Stanley 79), J Sexton (J Conlon 75), W Carrick-Smith (E Holmes 54), T Johnson, S Simmonds, S Skinner.

Scorers: tries – A Hughes, F Vainikolo, T James, S Skinner, penalty; conversions – C Sweeney (3)

; penalties – C Sweeney (2)

Referee: Greg MacDonald (England)

Attendance: 5,081

Argus star man: Nick Crosswell