NEWPORT Gwent Dragons failed to end their away day hoodoo ahead of a vital month of league action after being beaten 24-13 at Gloucester in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

The Dragons had hoped that there would be no place like Kingsholm after making a return to the ground where they famously upset the odds in the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

That stunning success last April was their last triumph away from Rodney Parade and sadly that streak goes on with challenging dates at Munster, Connacht and Glasgow approaching in the Guinness PRO12.

Tries either side of half-time did the damage, earning the Cherry and Whites a lead that they never looked like losing despite a brace by Dragons lock Matthew Screech.

There were some dogged performances by visiting players, notably tireless flanker Nic Cudd and bulldozer back row forward Robson Blake as an impact sub, but they could have few complaints about the result.

Like against Newcastle, they paid the price from conceding penalties that enabled English opposition to put the squeeze on, a problem that needs to be put right if they are to stand a chance in Cork.

Gloucester, who needed to win with a bonus-point to stand a chance of pipping Leicester to a semi-final berth, were chasing tries from the off.

They kicked penalties to the corner rather than for the posts and put the squeeze on with their driving lineout.

In midweek Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones had urged his side to be squeaky clean to avoid being pinned in their 22 by a hefty pack after being punished by Brive and Newcastle.

They failed to heed his warning but thankfully Gloucester errors meant trips to enemy territory were pointless.

The Cherry and Whites were on top and nearly got their reward when captain Callum Braley intercepted a poor pass from the base of the scrum by Nick Crosswell and raced clear from 10 metres inside his own half.

Thankfully Dragons fly-half Dorian Jones had the angle and the speed to cut him off and put the scrum-half into touch five metres out.

Jones then mixed the sublime and the shoddy with jinking break into the 22 followed by a woeful drop goal attempt and then another jinking break into the 22 from halfway that was ended by a momentum-killing penalty.

However, they were happy to hear the whistle of Welsh referee Rhys Thomas in the 27th minute that allowed wing Tom Prydie to boot them into a 3-0 lead.

The Gloucester faithful were getting frustrated with their side’s inability to convert visits into the Dragons’ 22 into points – a lively attack was knocked on for a fourth wasted opportunity, a five-metre lineout was turned over for a fifth and a wonky throw close to the line made it six.

The visitors were defending resolutely for their 3-0 lead as half-time approached but they were getting on the wrong side of the rather fussy Mr Thomas and paid the price in a 39th minute.

A breakdown offence after a carry by Adam Hughes allowed Gloucester to return back to the corner and this time they got it right for loosehead Cameron Orr to barge over with a super conversion by fly-half Lloyd Evans making it 7-3 at the break.

The Dragons needed a good start to the second half but instead were chasing the game when, after a scrum penalty had given Gloucester good field position, centre Henry Trinder cut a lovely line to go over untouched from close range.

Evans added the extras to make it 14-3 and stretched the lead by another three after the Dragons were destroyed at a scrum.

The visitors needed to gather their composure and got just the tonic when a pair of penalties allowed them to work their way up the field for an impressive driving lineout try, the ball shifted before a powerful maul that saw lock Matthew Screech go over for 17-8 approaching the hour.

Suddenly the Dragons had a bit of momentum but their efforts to get within striking distance were foiled by a driving lineout being turned over and a knock-on ending an attack in the 22 after a superb carry by hefty back row replacement Robson Blake.

Back things swung to the Cherry and White and twice they were held up over the line by frantic defence as the clock ticked towards 70 minutes.

However, they had the victory in the bag when scrum-half Ben Vellacott dashed over from a quick tap penalty five metres out, Evans once again majestically converted from the left touchline to make it 24-8.

To the Dragons’ credit they ended on top and scored the try of the game in the closing stages when a burst down the left wing by full-back Carl Meyer was followed by super handling, with Cudd crucially straightening the line, for Screech to get his second.

Gloucester: M Protheroe, D Halaifonua, H Trinder, E Creed, T Hudson, L Evans, C Braley (captain, B Vellacott 55), C Orr (Y Thomas 61), M Matu'u (D Dawidiuk 23), S Ma'afu (J McNulty 40), J Batley (J Latta 61), T Denton, S Kalamafoni (C Beckett 55), D Thomas, F Clarke (W Safe 69).

Scorers: tries – C Orr, H Trinder, B Vellacott; conversions – L Evans (3) ; penalty – L Evans

Dragons: C Meyer, A Hughes, T Morgan, J Dixon (S Beard 61), T Prydie, D Jones (A O’Brien 71), C Davies (T Knoyle 71), S Hobbs (T Davies 53), R Thomas (captain, R Buckley 41), L Fairbrother (C Mitchell 61), M Screech, A Sweet, J Thomas (R Blake 55), N Cudd, N Crosswell (R Landman 53).

Scorers: tries – M Screech (2); penalty – T Prydie

Referee: Rhys Thomas (Wales)

Attendance: 8,310

Star man: Nic Cudd