Head Coach Dai Flanagan told his Dragons to keep backing themselves and playing what was in front of them after a narrow one-point defeat to Cell C Sharks.
The Men of Gwent had led for much of the game after a try from Elliot Dee and 14 points from the boot of Will Reed.
But a crucial intercept score swung momentum back towards the South Africans before a late try snatched the BKT United Rugby Championship win.
Flanagan was still full of admiration for his team after a display packed for of energy, desire and spirit and stated that he would keep telling them to play to win.
“The intercept was a key moment, but I will keep backing the players to play that way,” he said.
“We had real momentum and if that pass outside goes to hand then we have got three men over.
“I will never want players to not make decisions and back themselves and Angus (O’Brien) has been superb all night.
“He has been excellent since he arrived, and I am going to back him every day of the week when we decides to make a play.
“We have got to keep backing each other because we are going to make mistakes, but that is life. We move on and we grow.
“Our effort was outstanding all game,” added Flanagan.
“The intercept put them back on the front foot and then we were clinging on.
“Nobody likes losing, especially me, but we will pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and go again.
“A six-day turnaround is difficult against a team as physical as these. We had to nail our recovery and prep and I felt we did that.
“What is really pleasing is how much more we have got.
“We are a little bit sticky and made some errors, but I can’t say enough that these are good players.
“We need to keep believing because there is loads more in the tank for us.”
Flanagan also praised the home set piece and lineout that disrupted Sharks all night.
“There are people in our lineout who are specialists, like George Nott, Ben Carter and Will Rowlands, and they are difficult to play against,” he added.
“They couldn’t get any front foot ball from the lineout. They put a lot of work in, they do their homework and preparation, and you see it on the field.”
Dragons RFC return to league action at Rodney Parade on Sunday, October 23 when we face Ospreys! Catch the big derby by CLICKING HERE or by calling 01633 670690.
The intercept was a key moment, but I never want players to not make decisions and back themselves...
