LYN Jones was full of praise for the spirit shown by his Newport Gwent Dragons side against Ulster but lamented a poor kicking game that condemned them to defeat in Belfast.

The Dragons are 10th in the Guinness Pro12 after being beaten 23-6 at a sodden Ravenhill after tries by Stuart Olding (2) and Declan Fitzpatrick.

An inexperienced side showed plenty of determination to be chasing a losing bonus point at the death but could have few complaints after being bossed in terms of possession and territory in testing conditions.

Director of rugby Jones said: "It was always going to be a difficult night for us and losing Ashley Smith (who had been struggling with a leg injury) before kick-off was another kick in the teeth for us.

"It was a game that should have been well within our reach but on the night we just weren't good enough.

"There were some really good performances but we failed to manage the game as well as Ulster.

"Our kicking game was off, that meant we were on the back foot and didn't get field position to put pressure on them.

"I was pleased with the spirit; we showed the attitude and desire to fight hard.

"We had to bring two teenagers off the bench in Ollie Griffiths and Barney Nightingale but showed lots of guts until the end and didn't fold under relentless pressure."

The Dragons' injury worries show no sign of ending with fly-half Jason Tovey, flanker Lewis Evans, hooker Rhys Thomas and prop Boris Stankovich all forced from the field in Belfast.

They are already operating with blindside James Thomas as a makeshift lock in the absence of Andrew Coombs, Ian Gough, Cory Hill, Matthew Screech and Joe Davies while Rhys Williams, who is on loan from Carmarthen Quins, is their only fit specialist senior centre.

The consolation is that they don't play in the Pro12 until welcoming Munster to Newport on November 22 but they will be down to the bare bones for the LV= Cup encounters at Harlequins and the Ospreys.

"If we can get a lock and centre back would be a big help but at the moment it seems like it would be a big positive just to get 15 fit guys out there," lamented Jones.

They travel to the Twickenham Stoop on Friday.