AFTER the frustration of an under-par performance in victory, Newport Gwent Dragons endured the angst of a narrow Guinness Pro12 defeat after being edged out 20-16 by Munster at Rodney Parade.

It was almost textbook Dragons, there was never any doubt that they would respond with a much better display after their 11-6 success against Zebre but ultimately they fell agonisingly short.

With the clock in the red all 15 men shunted towards the Munster line in unity from a driving lineout but the Irish province held firm to take the spoils.

In truth Munster probably deserved their win but there was much, much more to be pleased about from the Dragons performance, albeit it was rewarded with one point rather than four.

It was a game to emphasise why the Dragons intend to adopt a more expansive, wider approach as at times they struggle for possession when up against heavy-set opponents.

They had to dig deep in defence against Munster’s strong runners but when the ball was in their hands they stayed true to their pre-season pledge of playing rather than kicking the leather of it.

That, combined with defensive grit, should ensure they better last season’s paltry tally of four league successes.

Against Zebre it was a case of the Dragons dominating possession but failing to take their chances but versus the Irish province it was a defensive shift in the first quarter.

They stood firm, with Angus O’Brien cancelling out a three-pointer by Tyler Bleyendaal, until the 21st minute when some typically determined Munster one-out carrying in the 22 ended with number eight CJ Stander putting lock Jean Kleyn cantering through a gaping hole in the defence.

The conversion made it 10-3 but the hosts responded with a good spell of their own with one particularly sharp attack sparked by Wales speedster Hallam Amos choosing to keep ball in hand rather than go to the air, his burst followed by sharp offloads by centre Tyler Morgan and flanker Lewis Evans.

Yet it was Amos’ defence rather than fast footwork that provided the leveller when he picked off a loose pass by centre Colm O’Shea on halfway to race over for a try that O’Brien converted.

It remained level-pegging when good scrambling cover by hooker Rhys Buckley meant a try by opposite number Niall Scannell was chalked off for a knock-on by wing Ronan O’Mahony after Conor Murray’s sumptuous chip over the top.

Munster had just about edged the first 40 minutes but the hosts’ tenacity in defence meant it was 10-10 as the players trotted back to the changing rooms.

The Dragons made a sharp start to the second half with carries in one attack in the 22 by centre Jack Dixon, flanker Ollie Griffiths, prop Brok Harris, lock Nick Crosswell, flanker Lewis Evans, Griffiths again, hooker Rhys Buckley, prop Sam Hobbs, number eight Ed Jackson, Buckley again, fly-half Angus O’Brien, lock Rynard Landman, Crosswell again, Evans again, wing Pat Howard and Hobbs again before Jackson was pinged for holding on.

That bout of pressure wasn’t rewarded with points but they soon edged into the lead for the first time through a sweetly-struck O’Brien penalty only to gift a leveller from the restart when Jackson was deemed to have not gone through the gate after Evans’ carry out of the 22.

The penalties kept coming with the home side nipping into a 16-13 lead thanks to their fly-half’s right boot after referee Dudley Phillips continued to come down heavy on the team in attack.

However, Munster were back in front in the 57th minute after an initially tremendous move straight off the training paddock and a very fortunate ending.

An inside ball put Ronan O’Mahony racing clear and he put fellow wing Darren Sweetnam over in the corner, only for his to try and get closer to the posts. Amos dislodged the ball but it fell nicely for Cian Bohane to dot down.

The TMO correctly ruled it had gone backwards (despite some howls of derision from the wonderfully partisan home faithful!) and Bleyendaal converted to make it 20-16 to Munster.

The Dragons didn’t let shoulder sag and kept playing with admirable tenacity, their efforts earning the vocal backing of their support who roared them towards the line at the death.

Sadly the hosts couldn’t force their way over but they head to Treviso on Friday with just one more point but plenty of pride.

Newport Gwent Dragons: C Meyer (A Warren 21-25), P Howard, T Morgan, J Dixon (A Warren 76), H Amos, N Macleod, S Pretorius (C Davies 67), S Hobbs (T Davies 51), R Buckley, B Harris (C Mitchell 51), N Crosswell (C Hill 9-14, 54), R Landman, L Evans (captain), O Griffiths (N Cudd 58), E Jackson (J Thomas 68).

Scorers: try – H Amos; conversion – A O’Brien; penalties – A O’Brien (2)

Munster: A Conway (I Keatley 54), D Sweetnam, D Goggin, C O'Shea, R O'Mahony, T Bleyendaal, C Murray, J Cronin (D Kilcoyne 53), N Scannell (D Casey 65), J Ryan, J Kleyn (D O’Callaghan 53), D Ryan, B Holland (captain), J O'Donoghue (C Oliver 72), CJ Stander.

Scorers: tries – J Kleyn, C Bohane; conversions – T Bleyendaal (2); penalties – T Bleyendaal (2)

Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)

Attendance: 3,841