NEWPORT Gwent Dragons were given a useful British and Irish Cup tune-up despite being beaten 31-20 by Harlequins in a friendly at the Twickenham Stoop.

It was a return to the scene of the Dragons’ summer triumph in the Singha Premiership 7s but sadly this time their squad of first teamers trying to impress, academy talent and a smattering of Principality Premiership players came off second best, although they showed plenty of spirit and tenacity.

They didn’t get too much ball to show their attacking talents against a well-drilled and lively Quins side, who were watched by most of their first team squad including England captain Chris Robshaw, Danny Care and Wales legend (and Bedwas member) Adam Jones.

Instead it was largely a defensive workout against strong opposition and the experience should serve them well in the coming weeks.

The fixture at the Stoop was to ensure they don’t go into the B&I Cup cold in their pool that contains Connacht Eagles, Jersey and Doncaster.

So it will have pleased watching director of rugby Lyn Jones that Quins fielded a strong side that boasted a pair of former Dragons in loosehead Owen Evans and number eight Netani Talei, seasoned centres Matt Hopper and Winston Stanley, South African import Tim Swiel and fly-half Ben Botica, who was fresh from Aviva Premiership duty at Leicester the previous afternoon.

The Dragons named a pretty strong side themselves with one eye on the tournament opener in Galway with wing Aled Brew, centre Ross Wardle, fly-half Dorian Jones, scrum-half Luc Jones, hooker Hugh Gustafson and flanker James Benjamin having enjoyed Guinness Pro12 action so far this season.

They bolstered a youthful side that featured plenty of academy talent and a handful of players who have impressed in the Principality Premiership and were able to get the day off to travel to London.

Unsurprisingly it was largely a defensive workout – it will be a surprise if they come up against many better sides in the cross-border competition after tussling with a team of fringe Quins that emphasised the financial might of the Aviva Premiership.

The youngsters showed plenty of tenacity to avoid being completely overrun but they will certainly need to up their game in the tight, especially against the uncompromising Knights.

The Dragons had barely touched the ball with quarter of an hour gone and the score at 3-3 when Quins’ Italian scrum-half Tito Tebaldi, formerly of the Ospreys, was shown a red card after the touch judge spotted a punch.

The visitors swiftly struck with the penalty kicked to the corner twice before captain Gustafson was at the bottom of a driving lineout.

Dorian Jones missed the conversion and there were then some hectic negotiations in the stands with the coaching staff of both teams keen to see a 15 versus 15 contest.

Quins director of rugby Conor O’Shea got the green light from opposite number Lyn Jones, although Tebaldi’s evening was over.

The host promptly struck back through a driving lineout try of their own, flanker Archie White the scorer, that Botica converted.

That happened just after Dragons full-back Geraint Rhys Jones had been shown a yellow card after a number of offences inside the 22, a situation that led to the hosts sheepishly repaying the favour to allow Brew to come on as a replacement for the man in the sin bin.

Quins increased their lead to 17-8 with a third driving lineout try of the evening, White then Botica again, and the Dragons continued to largely work without the ball.

They also lost Wardle to a concussion after a huge collision in midfield, the centre reluctant to go off but correctly replaced after a wobbly return, but held firm to the break.

The Dragons suffered another injury in the opening exchanges of the second half when promising teenage prop Leon Brown required lengthy treatment after another big collision but thankfully the academy tighthead, who has been starring for Cross Keys in the Principality Premiership, was able to walk to the sidelines.

It was one-way traffic with the visitors unable to get a foothold because of their struggles in the tight and yet another driving lineout try, this time seemingly lock Charlie Matthews, left them trailing 24-8 with half an hour left.

However, they were given a timely boost when a nice attack was powerfully finished by Brew after strong charges by wing George Gasson and scrum-half Jones.

Dorian Jones converted but that merely stung the hosts into action and a snipe by replacement scrum-half Calum Waters gave Swiel a run-in.

The Dragons then enjoyed a spell of attacking pressure with young replacement half-backs Owen Davies and Arwel Robson, who have been showing promise with Newport RFC, prominent.

And they had the final say with a cracking score at the death with Brew, who looked lively, chipping over the top delightfully for centre Barney Nightingale to cross in the corner.

Harlequins scorers: tries – A White (2), C Matthews, T Swiel; conversions – B Botica (4); penalty – B Botica

Dragons starting XV: R Jones, E Frewen, C Edwards, R Wardle, G Gasson, D Jones, L Jones, L Garrett, H Gustafson, L Fairbrother, S Andrews, J Davies, J Skinner, J Benjamin, H Keddie.

Replacements used: E Shipp, A Jeffries, L Brown, E Taylor, B Morgan, L Crocker, O Davies, A Robson, A Brew, A King, B Nightingale, P Lewis, J Prosser.

Scorers: tries – H Gustafson, A Brew, B Nightingale; conversion – D Jones; penalty – G R Jones