THE Dragons Premiership Select side fell to their fifth consecutive defeat in the British & Irish Cup at unbeaten Pool Three leaders Jersey Reds, writes Jay Bayford.

The visitors fought their way back into the tie twice but Jersey had enough to see off their threat and secure another bonus-point victory.

Jersey took an early lead after referee Johnny Erskine awarded them a penalty try following a scrum.

The opener helped the hosts dominate proceedings and they soon took control of the game with another try.

A well-worked driving lineout ended with Nick Selway going over and Brendan Cope smashed the conversion over.

However, this time the Dragons replied immediately. Jersey conceded a penalty on the restart and after a quick take Charlie Davies squeezed through the Reds defence to go over and Newport’s Matt O’Brien bagged the conversion to reduce the deficit to seven points.

But that proved to be a rare highlight for the Dragons as Selway, also known as Salad, gave Jersey a healthy lead going into the break with his second of the night following another well-executed lineout. Cope missed with the conversion.

Taine Basham saw yellow on the stroke of half time for persistent offending and Jersey took advantage of their numerical superiority early in the second half when Jason Worral went over, after good work from skipper Scott van Breda and Tom Pincus, to earn the bonus point for the hosts. Cope kicked the conversion.

Basham redeemed himself when he returned to the field as he pulled the Dragons back into the game and Steffan Jones, who replaced O’Brien, made no mistake with the conversion.

But that did little to concern Jersey as they went up the other end to restore their 19-point lead through replacement Roy Godfrey and another Cope conversion.

And Jersey saved the best until last as Mark Best burst through the Dragons defence to claim a superb sixth try. Van Breda added the extras from the tee.

There was a late consolation try for the visitors from Connor Edwards but they ran out of time as they frantically searched for the fourth try that would have given them a bonus point.

Jersey: S van Breda (capt); T Pincus, A Ma’afu, M Best, J Worrall; B Cope (O Bryant 62), K Hardy (J Dudley 56); J Woolmore (R Godfrey 47), N Selway (J MacFarlane 47), J Armstrong (L Atalifo 56), J Sexton, U Kolo’ofa’i (J Voss 50), M Argyle, C Joyce (R Bartle 56), M Rogerson.

Scorers: Tries: Penalty Try, N Selway (2), J Worral, R Godfrey, M Best; Cons: B Cope (3), S van Breda.

Dragons Premiership Select: J Prosser; B Nightingale, S Beard, C Edwards, J Morris; M O’Brien (S Jones 49), C Davies (O Leonard 72); P Price (J Reynolds 72), E Shipp (W Griffiths 72), K Bale (J James 60), H Williams, J Skinner (K Parker 63), J Davies (A Waite 49), T Basham, L Greggains (capt).

Scorers: Tries: C Davies, T Basham, C Edwards; Con: M O’Brien, S Jones (2).

Dragons star man: Connor Edwards.