NEWPORT Gwent Dragons can empathise with Scotland after being stunned by Italian opposition, paying the price for failing to turn pressure into points against Guinness Pro12 bottom club Zebre.

The Dragons scored three tries at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi but their resilient hosts held firm for a 23-17 win despite being pinned in their own territory for almost all of the final quarter.

There was still a chance for Lyn Jones’ men to emerge with a share of the spoils with the score at 20-17 with five minutes left only for Wales wing Tom Prydie to shank a simple penalty from in front of the posts, an effort from the Don Fox school of place kicking.

Zebre made the most of that escape for ex-Italy centre Mirco Bergamsco to boot a late clincher, securing their first Pro12 win since November and a first ever success against the Dragons.

A losing bonus point wasn’t what the Rodney Parade region wanted and it means they are now back down below Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues, who had earlier edged out Edinburgh 21-15 at the Arms Park.

The Dragons were without in-form locks Rynard Landman and Andrew Coombs, through suspension and a back injury, and were down to their last fit specialist centres in Ashley Smith and Jack Dixon but that was nothing compared to Zebre’s list of absentees.

Ten of their players were no doubt nursing hangovers after being in the Italy 23 that stunned Scotland in Edinburgh while they were also missing influential injured internationals Marco Bortolami, Quintin Geldenhuys, Luciano Orquera and Leonardo Sarto.

Zebre were also on a run of six defeats that had seen them overtaken by rivals Treviso in the table while their last appearance in Parma has seen Glasgow run in eight tries in a 54-10 loss, yet they were to upset the odds.

It was a frantic start with Zebre on the front foot, giving the ball plenty of air and stretching the Dragons with former All Black Brendan Leonard to the fore.

Scrambled defence denied fly-half Edoardo Padovani five metres shy of the line but former Italy centre Mirco Bergamasco banged over a penalty to ensure the attack was rewarded with three points.

Dragons centre Ashley Smith then went within five metres of the tryline from quick lineout ball but the hosts cleared and then went agonisingly close themselves after centre Matteo Pratichetti and wing Dion Berryman went on the rampage.

Bergamasco was wide with another penalty and the Dragons made him pay with a quickfire brace.

First a superb penalty touchfinder by full-back Geraint Rhys Jones set up a driving lineout that ended with lock Cory Hill diving over.

That was swiftly followed by a marvellous 50-metre counter-attack score with Jones’ slick handling releasing centre Jack Dixon who played a ‘one-two’ with wing Tom Prydie before finishing powerfully in the right corner.

Prydie was wide with his second tricky conversion and any hopes of it being a routine trip to Italy were then dismissed by an impressive fightback by the hosts.

First flanker Jacopo Sarto was denied by the touch judge’s flag as he went over from a driving lineout but minutes later he was the man who went over down the right when a burst through midfield was worked to the right flank.

Bergamasco converted to level the points and Zebre deservedly went into the break with a 13-10 advantage courtesy of his second penalty, which came with the last kick of the half just minutes after Dragons full-back Jones had been yellow-carded for tackling opposite number Hennie Danniller in the air.

It was swiftly 14 versus 14 when lock Agustin Cavalieri was sin-binned for not using his arms in a chop tackle on Thomas and the Dragons reaped the rewards of going for the corner rather than the posts when flanker Nic Cudd went over from a driving lineout.

But, in a madcap game, back came Zebre with a seven-pointer of their own when centre Pratichetti barged over from close range, Bergamasco’s conversion making it 20-17 with 47 minutes on the clock.

The visitors were agonisingly close to grabbing the lead back – and bagging a bonus point – when wing Hallam Amos’ neat offload allowed Dixon to charge towards the line on 50 minutes but the ball was hit out of his grasp by Zebre’s committed defence.

The Dragons returned to their driving lineout in a bid to wrestle the lead back but twice the Italians held firm.

Things were getting increasingly frantic with most of the play taking place in the Zebre half with the Rodney Parade region frustrated further when Prydie missed a 40-metre attempt to level from in front of the posts with 12 minutes remaining.

And it got worse with five minutes left when the Wales international sliced a simple effort with Bergamasco plunging the dagger in at the death.

Zebre: H Daniller, D Berryman D Odiete 78), M Bergamasco, M Pratichetti, G Toniolatti (F Ruzza 54), E Padovani, B Leonard, A Lovotti (A De Marchi 54), O Fabiani (L Giovanchelli 70), L Romano, A Mahu (G Bernini 50), A Cavalieri, J Sarto (L Riccioli 58), M Bergamasco, M Mbanda. Replacements: L Giovanchelli, A De Marchi, L Redolfini, G Bernini, R Riccioli, A Chillon, F Ruzza, D Odiete.

Scorers: tries – J Sarto, M Pratichetti,; conversions – M Bergamasco (2); penalties – M Bergamasco (3)

Dragons: GR Jones (A Hewitt 77), T Prydie, J Dixon, A Smith, H Amos, D Jones, J Evans (L Jones 59), B Stankovich (L Fairbrother 68), R Thomas (captain, 77), B Harris (D Way 68), I Gough, C Hill (M Screech 50), J Thomas, N Cudd (J Benjamin 54), N Crosswell. Replacements: R Buckley, L Fairbrother, D Way, M Screech, J Benjamin, L Jones, M Pewtner, A Hewitt.

Scorers: tries – C Hill, J Dixon, N Cudd; conversion – T Prydie

Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)