Dragons' optimism was cut to size in a disappointing United Rugby Championship defeat by Benetton in Italy.

Rio Dyer and Steff Hughes hit back in an improved second-half display as Dragons briefly threatened a comeback.

But Edoardo Padovani and Mattia Bellini crossed to condemn Dragons to a ninth defeat in 10 away games.

The bonus-point win lifted resurgent Benetton to fourth in the table while Dragons remain in 13th place, three spots from the bottom.

It also provided a sign of the work to be done for new head coach Flanagan despite the optimism surrounding recent improved performances against URC heavyweights Munster and Sharks.

However, this game tested their credentials. Dragons have a miserable record on the road, while Benetton had already comfortably seen off Scarlets and Glasgow at Stadio Monigo this season.

And the opening half followed the form books as the hosts, boasting 10 Italy internationals, dominated.

Benetton's pack showed their intent, opting to kick for the corner rather than at goal, and they were rewarded with the game's opening try on 13 minutes when hooker Nicotera finished a devastating line-out.

Number eight Cannone followed nine minutes later after the Dragons had done well to deny Olympic sevens silver medallist Marcus Watson in the corner, only to simply run out of defenders.

Dragons' selection gamble

Flanagan had insisted making 10 changes from the narrow 20-19 loss to the Sharks was not a gamble, but the repeated mistakes perhaps told a different story.

Centres Jack Dixon and Max Clark, making his debut, showed promise with their power.

But attacks were cut short by conceding penalties, the Dragons kicking game was poor, and their front-row received a final warning from referee Sam Grove-White for repeatedly collapsing the scrum as early as the 26th minute.

It meant 21-year-old captain Ben Carter, the second youngest player to lead the Dragons, was forced to turn down kicks at goal from an early stage and they trailed 17-0 at half-time.

At 36, Flanagan may still be a young head coach, but he showed a ruthless streak by axing both props at half-time.

It meant Wales prop Rob Evans' first start for the region was cut short as Lloyd Fairbrother and Rhodri Jones, another to make his debut, were drafted in.

Bradley Roberts and Ross Moriarty soon followed and they made an immediate impact as both were involved in the build-up to the first Dragons try.

Moriarty provided impetus, Clark cut through and Dyer was on hand to pick up and dive over from close range on 47 minutes.

JJ Hanrahan's conversion was cancelled out by a Tomas Albornoz penalty, although Jared Rosser should have swiftly added a second Dragons try, but stumbled short of the line.

Fly-half Albornoz was ultimately to prove the difference as he created what would be the decisive score, drifting through before providing the scoring pass moments later for Padovani to grab Benetton's third try.

Dragons did find their way over once more with a surprisingly simple score straight from a scrum as Hughes, on his debut, latched onto Clark's burst. Sam Davies' conversion reduced the gap to 27-14 as the visitors sniffed half a chance.

But a glorious display of inter-passing by the Italians saw replacement Bellini canter over to wrap up a deserved bonus point 10 minutes from time and with it, a third win of the campaign.

Dragons fly-half JJ Hanrahan said:

"It was a fair result. They came out of the blocks better than we did and we didn't match their emotion or intensity. We gave them easy field position to go 17-0 up and after that it felt we were chasing the game.

"We were better in the second half in parts but they deserved the win.

"We've had a couple of good performances at home but the challenge for this group now is understanding what it takes to get victories on the road. That will take some learning from days like this."

Benetton: Edoardo Padovani; Marcus Watson, Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Mendy; Tomas Albornoz, Dewaldt Duvenage (capt); Ivan Nemer, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Scott Scrafton, Federico Ruzza, Manuel Zuliani, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Manuel Arroyo, Thomas Gallo, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolò Cannone, Toa Halafihi, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Marco Zanon, Mattia Bellini.

Dragons RFC: Angus O'Brien; Rio Dyer, Max Clark, Jack Dixon, Jared Rosser; JJ Hanrahan, Lewis Jones; Rob Evans, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ben Carter (c), Sean Lonsdale, Ben Fry, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Rhodri Jones, Lloyd Fairbrother, Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Rhodri Williams, Sam Davies, Steff Hughes

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi & Simone Boaretto (FIR)

TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU).