NEWPORT Gwent Dragons Premiership Select kept their British and Irish Cup dreams alive in the most dramatic of fashions by winning a thrilling encounter with the last move of the game.

Replacement back Arwel Robson scored a stunning try, set up by centre Barney Nightingale and wing Aled Brew, to steal the game from Jersey at the death.

Trailing 27-23 with just 10 seconds left of normal time at Cross Keys’ Pandy Park, the Dragons were staring down the barrel of what was looking like a numbing defeat.

Hopes had been high after they opened the tournament with a stunning bonus point victory at Connacht last week.

It looked as if they would follow it up with a bitterly disappointing setback but that final moment of magic saw them emerge victorious after Jersey had looked almost certain of taking the spoils.

It was the proverbial game of two halves, the Dragons, coached by Greg Woods and James Chapron, dominating the first before the Channel Islanders were way on top in the second with their huge pack.

It was the hosts who opened the scoring in the 12th minute when scrum half Luc Jones crossed for a smart converted try after outside half Angus O’Brien and centre Adam Jones combined well.

But their lead was short-lived when Jersey hit back with a fine score of their own from nothing when No 9 Jack Moates put his wing Mark McCrea away, fly half Aaron Penberthy putting over the extras to level the scores.

A glorious movement by the Dragons nearly saw them score their second try only for Nightingale’s pass to be deliberately knocked on by McCrea who was yellow carded.

O’Brien slotted over a simple penalty to put his side 10-7 ahead after 24 minutes.

A lovely chip by O’Brien caused chaos in the visiting defence and the hosts should have been awarded at least a penalty after the No 10 was tripped.

Justice was done however just minutes later when the sublime fly half’s beautiful cross kick was gathered by Adam Jones who crossed in the corner, O’Brien converting.

A long range penalty by Penberthy eight minutes before half-time, reduced the hosts’ lead to 17-10.

It was the Dragons who dominated going into the interval and came agonizingly close to extending their advantage after pounding the Jersey try-line only for the Channel Islanders to just hold them out.

It was Jersey who started the second half on fire after a storming run by captain and second row Pierce Phillips led to Moates finishing superbly for his side’s second converted try which made it all square.

An O’Brien penalty after 44 minutes restored the Dragons lead only for Penberthy to cancel it out and make it 20-20 with a penalty after Phillips went on another incredible one-man offensive.

A scrum penalty saw O’Brien put his side back in the lead after 54 minutes.

It was Jersey who had the better of the third quarter and they looked dangerous going into the last 20 minutes, making the Dragons work hard in defence.

Jersey were rewarded for their domination when they were awarded a penalty try with just nine minutes left after their forwards had driven like a juggernaut to the Dragons’ try-line, Penberthy converted to give his team a 27-23 lead.

To rub salt in the wound, openside flanker James Benjamin was yellow carded for hauling the driving maul down.

When Penberthy lined up a last-minute penalty shot, it looked like curtains for the home side.

But his miss allowed the Dragons to launch that glorious counter attack from their own line to win the encounter in the most thrilling of manners and triumph in a wonderful game.

Dragons: Geraint Rhys Jones (Arwel Robson 75), Aled Brew, Barney Nightingale, Adam Jones, Aaron Warren, Angus O’Brien, Luc Jones, Luke Garrett (Richard Cornock 42), Hugh Gustafson (capt) (Thomas Rhys Thomas 54), Leon Brown (Alex Jeffries 63), Scott Andrews, Ashley Sweet (Adam Brown 56), Scott Matthews (Josh Skinner 57), James Benjamin, Harrison Keddie.

Replacements: Owen Davies.

Scorers: Tries – Luc Jones (12), Adam Jones (28), Arwel Robson (80), Conversions – Angus O’Brien (12), (28), (80), Penalties – O’Brien (24), (44), (54)

Jersey: Rich Lane, Mark McCrea, Rhys Owen, Mark Cooke, Oli Evans, Aaron Penberthy, Jack Moates, Sean McCarthy (Nacho Lancuba 54), Nick Selway (49), Russell Anderson, Oliver Tomaszczyk (Ben Featherstone 49), Will Rowlands, Pierce Phillips (capt), James Freeman, Gary Graham (Tommy Spinks 60), Uili Kolo'ofa'i (Alex Rae 63).

Scorers: Tries – Marc McCrea (16), Jack Moates (42), Penalty try 72), Conversions – Aaron Penberthy (16), (42), (72), Penalties – Penberthy (32) (48).

Replacements: Joel Dudley, Jack Burroughs.

Argus star man: Angus O’Brien