NEWPORT Gwent Dragons went down to a 38-25 defeat to London Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup this evening.

The Dragons made the perfect start to the clash in High Wycombe when centre Adam Hughes ran over Scotland full-back Hugo Southwell to score but the rest of the first quarter was a one-sided affair.

Tries by Jack Wallace, Fabio Staibano and Billy Vunipola put the hosts in command, although a try by debutant prop Owen Evans and a Lewis Robling penalty gave the Dragons hope at half-time, trailing 25-15.

However, former Wales fly-half Nicky Robinson booted them out of the game and then Joe Simpson secured Wasps’ bonus point on the hour.

A late score by teenage centre Jack Dixon gave the Dragons a shot at a pair of bonus points but they failed to grab them, and in truth didn't deserve to get anything from the encounter.

The Dragons aim to get off the mark when they host Bayonne next Saturday.