Sharks deny Dragons victory with late try

Captain Vincent Tshituka scored the Sharks' opening try

United Rugby Championship: Dragons v Sharks

Dragons (22) 30

Tries: Basham, Coleman, R Williams, Carter Cons: L Evans 2 Pens: L Evans, Reed

Sharks (12) 33

Tries: Tshituka, Jaden Hendrikse, Julius, Hooker, Mbatha Cons: Masuku 4

Dragons suffered a major blow when replacement Sharks hooker Fez Mbatha scored an 85th-minute try to clinch a dramatic United Rugby Championship (URC) bonus-point win at Rodney Parade.

The hosts had opened up a 22-5 lead following tries from flanker Taine Basham, prop Chris Coleman and scrum-half Rhodri Williams, with captain Vincent Tshituka responding for the visitors.

Sharks battled back either side of half-time with tries from Springboks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, centre Jurenzo Julius and wing Ethan Hooker.

Dragons captain Ben Carter scored the bonus-point try but Mbatha popped up for the crucial score in the fifth minute of added time.

Player of the match Basham was brilliant in his first start of the season after recovering from tendonitis issues.

Scrum-half Williams and flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes also starred for Dragons but the hosts also missed four kicks at goal.

Dan Lydiate was included in the back row at number eight but Wales prop Leon Brown was a late withdrawal because of illness with Aaron Wainwright and Elliot Dee also injured.

Sharks were missing World Cup-winning Springboks such as Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche and Lukhanyo Am but scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse was included as the only change to the starting side that lost 36-30 in Connacht.

Hendrikse was one of two sets of brothers included alongside full-back Jordan, with the Tshituka siblings - captain Vincent and Emmanuel - both playing in the back row.

Fast start for Dragons

Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams has played for Wales

Lewis-Hughes claimed two early penalty turnovers with fly-half Lloyd Evans slotting over the second kick after an early miss.

Flanker James Venter was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Aneurin Owen. The hosts made their extra numbers tell when Basham crashed over as the returning flanker was rewarded for a barnstorming opening quarter.

Evans converted before he was allowed to carry on after taking a heavy knock while attempting a tackle.

Sharks responded when captain Tshituka dived over but Dragons produced a well-worked backline move which released lively scrum-half Williams.

When wing Rio Dyer was pulled down short of the line, the hosts were patient and Coleman burrowed over.

Sharks' scrummaging superiority briefly threatened but Dragons retaliated with another excellent flowing move.

Wing Jared Rosser made the telling break and fed the supporting inside run of scrum-half Williams who sprinted away to score.

This score came two minutes before half-time but Dragons failed to close out the half as they conceded a soft try to scrum-half Hendrikse, with home centre Harry Wilson guilty of a poor missed tackle on opposite number Julius in the build-up.

So instead of a 17-point advantage, Dragons led 22-12 at the interval.

Sharks battle back

Centre Julius turned try scorer early in the second half after he was adjudged to have grounded the ball after referee Andrew Brace asked the opinions of the television match official (TMO) Brian MacNeice.

Wing Hooker popped off for the bonus-point score when he latched onto a clever Jordan Hendrikse kick.

Sharks lock Jason Jenkins was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on and Dragons again took advantage of their opponents ill-discipline, with lock Carter driving over from short-range to regain the lead.

Evans missed the conversion before replacement Will Reed, on for Angus O'Brien, slotted over a penalty before missing with another attempt.

Dragons benefitted from some loose kicking from Masuku and excellent defence as Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen threatened to break the hosts' resistance.

Dai Flanagan's side could not withhold the constant pressure from the visitors and eventually cracked as Sharks went through almost 20 phases for the final score.

To add to the drama, the try was checked by the TMO for a potential knock-on but the score was awarded much to the displeasure of the raucous Rodney Parade crowd.

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan: "There is lots to be optimistic about but it was that 10-minute blip either side of half-time and some skill set errors that have cost us the outcome at the end.

"It is a step forward and we took some more chances this week.

“It’s just hard to swallow when you lose that late on. It’s the other side of it after we beat Ospreys late on."

Dragons: Angus O’Brien, Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (capt), Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham, Dan Lydiate.

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rodrigo Martinez, Luke Yendle, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Joe Westwood.

Sharks: Jordan Hendrikse; Eduan Keyter, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker; Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse; Ntuthuko Mchunu, Dylan Richardson, Ruan Dreyer, Jason Jenkins, Gerbrandt Grobler, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka (capt), Manu Tshituka.

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Trevor Nyakane, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Lionel Cronje, Francois Venter.

Sin-bin: Venter 10, Jenkins 53

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Ben Connor & Nathan James (WRU)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU).