Emerick will be making his Heineken Cup debut next season

American Emerick was the match-winner for Overmach Parma in last season's play-off win against the Dragons.

"Could you write a better story? But I don't think the team would have wanted it to be so close," said Emerick after the 22-15 win at Rodney Parade.

"But winning is the most important thing. We're in the Heineken Cup."

Extra-time was looming when Emerick crossed two minutes from time to complete the Dragons's unlikely comeback.

I was preparing my losing speech with 20 minutes to go Dragons coach Paul Turner

The Gwent region trailed 15-3 with 25 minutes to go, but tries from Aled Thomas and Luke Charteris brought the home side level.

Calvisano fly-half Roland de Marigny wasted a great chance to seal victory for his side when he missed his third penalty of the evening with just three minutes remaining.

The Dragons made the most of the let-off as they surged up field and breached the dogged Calvisano defence for a third time when Emerick burst through to score.

"We were trying to do a little too much with the ball in hand," said Emerick, who extended his Dragons contract on Thursday.

"When we retained the ball and went through the phases we made good ground. Maybe we were a little nervous, but we got there in the end."

Dragons coach Paul Turner admitted he believed he was heading for a second successive play-off defeat, and paid tribute the strength of the Calvisano side.

"I was preparing my losing speech with 20 minutes to go," said Turner.

"The game proved that the perception that Italy is a second-rate rugby nation is a total myth.

"Calvisano were all over us in the set-pieces and contact areas. They looked dangerous all around.