NEWPORT Gwent Dragons had to settle for a draw against Edinburgh at Rodney Parade when they desperately need a win to boost their hopes of automatic qualification for next season's Heineken Cup.

They did come from behind to secure a share of the spoils in this Magners League clash after trailing by ten points as the Scottish team took advantage of the heavy rain and wind in their favour.

But after doing the hard work, and even replying with a try and conversion before half-time, they couldn't manage to exploit the elements after the interval.

Their only second half points came from a penalty by Aled Thomas, who had replaced Ceri Sweeney in the first half, and even the introduction of a number of replacements failed to lift them.

They couldn't gain any domination up front and lacked the necessary penetration behind to make the big breakthrough.

Though welcoming a few players back, the Dragons' injury list took another twist when hooker Ben Daly injured a calf during the warm-up and had to withdraw, replaced by Steve Jones.

Foul weather prior to the game kept the attendance down and the Dragons had to play into the driving rain and in in the first half.

The Scottish team almost took a first minute lead when converted back row forward Roland Reid, playing on the wing, seized on a speculative kick and might have scored had he been able to gather the bouncing ball.

But centre Ben Cairns celebrated being given the captaincy by romping through for a super solo try after eight minutes when he sliced through midfield and swept outside Martyn Thomas for a try which Phil Godman converted.

And Edinburgh went further ahead when Godman kicked a straight penalty after Michael Owen was pulled up for not releasing.

Ceri Sweeney should have narrowed the gap with a penalty 20 yards out bang in front, but he tried to blast it into the wind and drove the ball across the face of the posts.

Soon after he left the field with a shoulder injury. He was replaced by Aled Thomas who was quickly in the action as he dashed back to foil Edinburgh lock Matt Mustchin after Michael Owen inexplicably chose to kick inside his own half and had it charged down.

The Dragons hit back with storming runs by Rhodri Davies and Kevin Morgan, but prop Hugh Gustafson held on when he had an overlap.

The pressure was rewarded, however, as Hall drove for the line and when the ball came back Smith kicked through to his left where winger Richard Fussell just nabbed the touchdown, though the decision went to the TMO.

Thomas' conversion attempt from wide out appeared to be going wide, but then drifted in off the wind to reduce the leeway to three points which would have become six had Godman not missed a comfortable shot with the last kick of the half.

The Dragons had done well to keep the margin down to three points against the elements and they had the benefit of the wind and rain at their backs in the second half.

They promptly set up camp in the Edinburgh half, Morgan almost getting though, though the Dragons scrum, missing Adam Black and Rhys Thomas, was in some trouble.

The Dragons then lost two line-outs ten yards out on their own ball as they continued to make hard work of overhauling the Scots, but they did draw level after 57 minutes when Thomas kicked an angled penalty.

Morgan, Smith and Williams handled menacingly after a burst by Gustafson, but despite a whole raft of changes they lacked the inspiration to finish the job.

A forward pass wrecked one promising looking move before Fussell and Harrison made deep inroads and Thomas had a dropped goal attempt charged down by Hamilton.

Hooker Steve Jones limped off near the end and the Dragons made one final effort when Joe Bearman burst away down the touchline only to be ankle tapped five yards out by replacement Laidlaw.

Newport Gwent Dragons: K Morgan (captain), M Thomas (P Emerick 40), R Davies, A Smith, R Fussell, C Sweeney (A Thomas 24), A Williams (W Evans 70), H Gustafson (L Harrison 70), S Jones (K Crawford 82), L Harrison (G Robinson 54), A Hall (A Jones 52), P Sidoli, J Bearman, M Owen (J Ringer 70), R Parks.

Scorers -- try: R Fussell; conversion: A Thomas; penalty: Thomas.

Edinburgh: C Macrae, A Turnbull (J Houston 62), B Cairns (captain), N De Luca (M Dey 35), R Reid, P Godman, B Meyer (G Laidlaw 80), A Allori (G Kerr 52), A Kelly, C Smith, M Mustchin (C Hamilton 52), B Gissing, A Macdonald (S Lawrie 69), D Callam (S Cross 61), R Rennie.

Scorers -- try: B Cairns; conversion: P Godman; penalty: Godman.

Referee: Mr A Lewis (Ireland).

Attendance: 4,734.