Newport Gwent Dragons’ Heineken Cup hopes are over for another season after they were beaten in their ‘home’ game against Wasps at Cardiff City Stadium yesterday.

It meant they have lost all three games in the competition this season and have no chance of making the knock-out stages.

To make matters worse they lost two more players to their injury jinx, key outside-half Jason Tovey, who had scored 11 points and helped create their try, and prop Nigel Hall, both carried off with leg injuries.

And the move which led to the first Wasps try when the Dragons were leading 10-3 contained a forward pass and knock-on.

Tovey had looked the part in front of watching Wales coach Warren Gatland, while Toby Faletau further enhanced his reputation.

But injuries and the absence of Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris and Tom Willis left the Dragons with too big a mountain to climb.

There were almost as many Wasps supporters in the ground as Dragons fans when Tovey kicked off, with three sides of the stadium closed off.

But the Dragons had the benefit of a great start when they earned a penalty and Tovey slotted the kick from 45 yards out.

They decided to go for a scrum near the Wasps’ line instead of for goal, and were richly rewarded.

Faletau was held at the back, but the ball was recycled, and delightfully slick handling and passing by Aled Brew and Tovey put acting captain Ashley Smith away down the right wing and he crossed near the posts for Tovey to convert.  Dave Walder missed a penalty shot, but succeeded soon after with a straightforward effort awarded for offside and then the Wasps drew level after an 80-yard counter, though the try should never have been allowed as TV replays showed the move clearly contained a forward pass and a knock-on.

A wayward kick infield by Pat Leach was swept up by England veteran Simon Shaw, skipper Ben Jacobs and David Lemi handled and despite last- ditch tackles by Toby Faletau and Gavin Thomas Jacobs still got the touchdown for Walder to convert and level the scorers.

But the Dragons quickly got their noses back in front when Tovey landed a penalty for preventing release, and the gifted fly-half did even better when he landed a smart dropped goal after excellent work by Thomas.

Wasps came again and were denied a try when Brew just got back to deny Joe Simpson, the TMO ruling a try out, but a scrum infringement enabled Walder to narrow the gap to three points with his second penalty.

The Dragons scrum was in big trouble and they lost tight head Nigel Hall, carried off on a stretcher, replaced by Ben Castle, while Hugh Gustafson took over from Phil Price as well.

Walder missed a second penalty attempt, which meant the Dragons ended the first half 16-13 ahead.

It didn’t last long, though, for paper- thin tackling allowed Wasps centre Steve Kefu to break away and he put Lemi away down the wing and over for a try, though the Dragons suffered a hammer blow when they lost Tovey with a knee injury in the process.

His replacement, Matthew Jones, sliced a penalty shot and Wasps, now in control, got their third try through Tom Vandell after Wales back-row forward Andy Powell made the running.

But the Dragons hit back gamely and Hughes almost made in the right corner before Lloyd Burns and Brew were desperately close on the other side of the pitch.

Despite heavy late pressure and a close call when Hughes nearly made it in the corner they couldn’t get on the scoreboard again and had to be content with a losing bonus point.

Newport Gwent Dragons: P Leach, A Hughes, T Riley, A Smith (captain), A Brew, J Tovey (M Jones 47), W Evans, P Price (H Gustafson 37), L Burns, N Hall (B Castle 37), A Jones (S Morgan 48), R Sidoli, L Evans, T Faletau, G Thomas.

Scorers — try: A Smith; conversion: J Tovey; penalties: Tovey (2); dropped goal: Tovey.

Wasps: M van Gisbergen (R Haughton 56), T Varndell, B Jacobs (captain), S Kefu, D Lemi, D Walder, J Simpson, Z Taulafo (S Ruwers 64), J Ward, B Broster, S Shaw, J Cannon (M Veale 77), J Worsley, A Powell, S Betsen (D Ward-Smith 51).

Scorers — tries: B Jacobs, D Lemi, T Vandell; conversion: D Walder; penalties: Walder (2).

Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland).

Attendance: 3,432.

Argus star man: Jason Tovey.