Michael Owen's try was not enough for the Dragons on Friday night

Dragons (11) 11
Try: Owen
Cons: Parks 3
Pens: Sweeney 2

Connacht (6) 13
Tries: O'Connor
Cons: Dunne
Penalties: S Nathan 2

Connacht battled to a rare away win in the Magners League as they condemned the Dragons to defeat at Rodney Parade.

A Johnny O'Connor's try five minutes from the end, converted by replacement fly-half Andy Dunne, was enough for the visitors to seal victory.

Visiting scrum-half Conor McPhillips executed three try-stopping tackles in his man-of-the-match display.

Michael Owen claimed the home try after 18 minutes, but they wasted a glut of possession and chances.

Defeat left the Dragons struggling to avoid a play-off for Heineken Cup qualification against Italian opposition and erased any feel-good factor from the announcement of signings from New Zealand.

Cardiff Blues-bound fly-half Ceri Sweeney was at the centre of much of the hosts better work.

However, he was also unable to complete the final passes for two clear-cut chances that should have sealed victory.

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Sweeney's fourth-minute penalty kicked off the scoring and the fly-half almost added a try in the 17th only to be bundled into touch.

But Connacht fluffed the line-out and as they stood and watched, number eight Owen claimed the easiest of tries as he gathered before crossing untouched.

Connacht fought back with a brace of Troy Nathan penalties, but after failing to convert Owen's try, Sweeney added a penalty a minute before the break to give them an 11-6 lead.

The visitors let themselves down with poor handling at crucial times, but the Dragons were also guilty of squandering their opportunities, and they also suffered bad luck at crucial moments.

Owen was judged to have knocked on in the act of touching down after the break, much to his annoyance.

Centre Rhodri Gomer-Davies lost possession after some stylish attacking play and centre partner Paul Emerick and full-back Martyn Thomas also fell short.

As the pressure mounted on the visitors' defence Sweeney was again dragged down metres from the line.

At his third attempt Sweeney broke clear only for McPhillips to perform the sort of defensive heroics that marked him out as one of Connacht's star players on the night.

Connacht's fighting qualities were underlined when they battled upfield after sustaining a long period of pressure for flanker O'Connor to gather at a ruck and race over.

Dunne's conversion put the visitors ahead for the first time with five minutes remaining and McPhillips was named man-of-the-match.

Newport-Gwent D'gons: M Thomas, Wyatt, Emerick, Gomer-Davies, Mustoe; Sweeney, Williams; Black, S Jones, R Thomas, A Jones, Charteris, Charvis, Owen, Bearman.
Replacements: Morgan for M Thomas (69), W Evans for A Williams (16), Ringer for Charvis (69).
Not Used: Daly, Pattison, Hall, Tovey.

Connacht: Duffy, Mostyn, Deane, Matthews, Riordan; Nathan, McPhillips; Wilkinson, Flavin, Loughney, Gannon, Farley, Muldoon, Rigney, O'Connor.
Replacements: Yapp for Deane (30), Dunne for Nathan (63).
Not Used: Fogarty, Evans, Daffney, Shaw.

Referee: Neil Paterson (SRFU)

Att: 3,240