URC: Dragons kicking themselves after draw with Sharks

Dragons may have ended an 18-match losing streak in the United Rugby Championship (URC) but blew a golden opportunity to claim that elusive win.

A 17-17 draw with Sharks may have been a good result on paper but it was the decision to turn down a drop goal attempt as the clock ticked past 80 minutes that they will surely regret..

Dragons’ last victory against South African opposition was against Cheetahs in 2020 when Sam Davies slotted a penalty with the last kick to claim a 13-10 win.

Tinus de Beer could have been the hero on Friday night when the forwards hammered away to within a metre of the try line.

Dragons were in front of the posts and it was a simple drop goal, even in the slippery conditions of Storm Amy, but the pass back to the pocket never came.

The ball was instead flung to the right, full-back Angus O’Brien went close to a try and then tight-head prop Rob Hunt, who was back on because replacement Chris Coleman was in the sin bin, knocked on when picking up at the resulting ruck.