Dragons slumped to a heavy five-try defeat at home to Zebre, who claimed their first Pro14 win of the season.

The Italians led 13-7 at half-time thanks to tries from Jamie Elliot and Edoardo Padovani, with Harri Keddie replying for the home side.

Zebre turned the screw after the break as Tommaso Boni, Charlie Walker and Maxime Mbanda tries secured a bonus point at Rodney Parade.

Dragons back-row Taine Basham scored a late consolation for the Welsh side.

Dragon's head coach Dean Ryan had made eight changes from the European Challenge Cup win over Enisei-STM in Russia last weekend, while he was without four players on Wales duty against the Barbarians.

Zebre had lost all six of their Pro14 games this season before Saturday and returned to the league after two defeats in the European Challenge Cup.

Dragons: Talbot-Davies; Howells, Warren, Dixon, Jenkins; Robson, Knoyle; Harris, Hibbard (capt), Fairbrother, Davies, Screech, Taylor, Basham, Keddie.

Replacements: Shipp, Reynolds, Jarvis, M Williams, Fry, R Williams, Botica, T Morgan.

Zebre: Padovani, Walker, Bisegni (capt), Boni, Elliott; Canna, Violi; Fischetti, Bigi, Zilocchi, Kearney, Nagle, Mbanda, Licata, Giammarioli.

Replacements: Fabiani, Lovotti, Bello, Sisi, Meyer, Renton, Biondelli, Bruno.

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Simon Rees (WRU), Mark Patton (IRFU)

TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)