A SHOULDER injury for Wales hopeful Ollie Griffiths added to the woe of another away defeat for Newport Gwent Dragons at Zebre, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 22-year-old flanker was forced off the field in the opening stages of the second half in the 29-14 loss in Parma.

Griffiths has put in a string of strong performances in a frustrating season to be in contention for the summer tour that will see Wales face Samoa and Tonga.

The Dragons will now assess the injury ahead of Saturday's Judgement Day clash with the play-off chasing Scarlets at Principality Stadium.

They will also look back on a horror show in Parma in which they shipped four tries in a 29-14 defeat to a Zebre side that started the day on the bottom of the Guinness PRO12.

Wales lock Cory Hill and wing Adam Hughes scored tries but the Dragons were comprehensively beaten and have lost every game away from Rodney Parade this season and haven't triumphed since the European Challenge Cup victory against Enisei-STM on January 16.

"We came unstuck up front and our scrum let us down," admitted head coach Kingsley Jones, who replaced props Phil Price and Brok Harris before half-time.

"We started well in the second half well (to close to 15-14) but then made basic errors and allowed Zebre to get away from us while at the end we had so many opportunities but failed to take them. Fair play to them but we have to be better than that.

"I gave the players the sharp end of my tongue afterwards. Is that the right thing to do? I don't know but these are games that we should be getting something from.

"I am sure that the players won't be lacking in motivation for next week against the Scarlets, it will be a big occasion, but we have to be more accurate.

"You just can't underestimate how important the small details are and we are getting them wrong at the moment."

The Dragons remain 10th in the table, three points behind Edinburgh and just two ahead of Zebre and five clear of Treviso.

Jones' side face the Scarlet on Saturday before a trip to Edinburgh and a final day clash with Cardiff Blues in Caerphilly.