NEWPORT Gwent Dragons had to settle for a consolation losing bonus point from their clash with Guinness PRO12 champions Connacht. Here are five things that we learnt from their 14-9 defeat in Galway.

1: Defensive grit

Throughout their history the Dragons have made a habit of putting in plucky performances in defeat away from home, leaving us lamenting the song remaining the same.

However, too often this season it has been a case of when the levee breaks. Kingsley Jones’ side have lost all 13 games away from home this term and before last night had been within seven points just once (at the Scarlets when they also scored four tries).

Last weekend the game was lost when they shipped a glut of quickfire points at Munster and it looked like a familiar pattern when Connacht started in stunning fashion. Had the champs scored a third try before the break then they probably would’ve won with a bonus point.

But the Dragons' efforts in defence – with flankers Ollie Griffiths and Nic Cudd immense – have to be lauded.

They could have taken the spoils in the second half but equally it was their tenacity without the ball that at least earned a consolation to draw level with ninth-placed Edinburgh.

2: Lineout excellence

Forwards coach Ceri Jones has rightly been proud of the Dragons’ defensive lineout this season and they remain one of the PRO12 most disruptive teams.

Nick Crosswell was especially superb in that department and Connacht struggled to get clean ball throughout.

The Dragons had their own occasional wobbles but when they were pinned close to their line they put the champions under pressure and often escaped.

Jones and captain Lewis Evans have been quick to praise the work of analyst Owen Griffiths in that department and he is helping the forwards to try and avoid being on the receiving end of dangerous drives.

3: Power problems (again)

At the risk of repeating myself, you can see why the Dragons are desperate for powerful prospect Harri Keddie and bulky Bedwas back row forward Robson Blake to develop next season because there are times when they need a big unit to burst through.

That’s been a common theme throughout the season and they have struggled to break teams down in the 22.

It is a problem that is both down to a lack of patience and a lack of an out-and-out ball-carrying beast.

While the Dragons would love a Josh Strauss/Nick Williams/Opeti Fonua type figure in certain situations they also need (and I appreciate this sounds like boring coaching buzz words) to be accurate under pressure.

If they had got the fine details right in the Connacht 22 last night then we might have been talking about the end of the 21-game league losing streak.

While they need another forward with proven ball-carrying talent, the Dragons also need to think clearly when they can smell the line.

4: Every little helps

The Dragons had hoped to be in a battle for places with Connacht and Cardiff Blues at the end of the season but that’s looking unlikely now.

However, there is still lots to play for and they went level with Edinburgh thanks to their consolation in Galway.

While ninth place is not reason to be popping open the bubbly, it would be an improvement on last season and their trip to the Scottish capital, at their new Myreside home, could be a crucial.

Playing the Scarlets and the Blues ‘home’ games away from Rodney Parade doesn’t help their bid for a strong run-in but the Edinburgh and Zebre games on the road are important to not only this season but next. That hoodoo has to end.

5: Crazy Connacht

The champions’ approach is wonderfully bonkers at times, the sort of tactics that seem mad given the notoriously challenge Galway conditions.

There was a brief pre-match shower but Saturday turned out to be nice and the weather helped make a cracking game.

Connacht play joyful rugby with offloads galore. High risk, high reward. It’s exactly what the Dragons were aspiring to when they started the season.

That desire has been hindered by injuries to game-breakers Hallam Amos and Ashton Hewitt but the pace, enterprise and sometimes daftness of Connacht is something to try and emulate.

However, confidence courtesy of wins is key on that front.