European Challenge Cup: Dragons 21-26 Gloucester - Dragons finish bottom of Pool B

Louis Rees-Zammit's try helped Gloucester earn their bonus point

Gloucester fought back to earn a bonus-point win against Dragons in Newport as the European Challenge Cup pool stage came to a close.

Santiago Socino and Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit scored first-half tries for Gloucester, who had already qualified.

But Taine Basham, Jared Rosser and Harrison Keddie gave the hosts the advantage at the break.

Socino completed his hat-trick in the second half as Gloucester hit back and kept the hosts scoreless.

Gloucester finish second in Pool B and face a home game against Northampton Saints in the last 16.

Dragons went into the game knowing their chance of a third-place finish and with it the possibility of progressing to the last 16 had disappeared after group rivals Benetton beat Perpignan 17-7 earlier on Saturday.

However, that failed to dampen the Anglo-Welsh rivalry in front of each team's passionate fans at Rodney Parade.

Argentina hooker Socino's early try was heartily welcomed among visiting supporters and Basham's response was equally welcome for the home crowd.

But when Rosser finished off a try sparked by Sam Davies' chip, catch and offload, the Rodney Parade faithful truly had a moment to savour.

On other nights Rees-Zammit scoring a try on Welsh soil would also have been something to relish, but on a rare club appearance in Wales, that sight was not greeted with any particular enthusiasm by his compatriots on this occasion.

Fly-half Davies produced another sublime offload in an impressive display to send Keddie charging to the line and put Dragons nine points ahead at the break.

It eventually paid as Socino powered over for his second to break the second-half deadlock, with Billy Twelvetrees adding the extras.

Socino's third came with most of his fellow forwards driving him over and while opposite number Elliot Dee was in the sin-bin, Twelvetrees again converting.

Dragons: J Williams; J Holmes, Warren, Dixon, Rosser; S Davies, Bertranou; Bateman, Dee, Brown, J Davies, Rowlands, Keddie (capt), Basham, Wainwright.

Replacements: T Davies, Seiuli, Coleman, Carter, Fry, R Williams, Reed, D Richards.

Gloucester: Moyle; Rees-Zammit, Seabrook, Twelvetrees (capt), Thorley; Barton, Meehan; Elrington, Socino, Gotovtsev, Clarke, Davidson, Reid, Taylor, Morgan.

Replacements: Walker, Ford-Robinson, O'Connor, Craig, Ackermann, Chapman, Hillman-Cooper, Carreras.

Match officials

Referee: Tual Trainini (France)

Assistant referees: Benoit Rousselet & Cedric Marchat (France)

TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)