Newport Gwent Dragons director of rugby Lyn Jones has claimed that the referee played a key part in his team's defeat to Harlequins in the LV= Cup.

The Dragons led 21-8 at half time at Twickenham Stoop on Friday, but they were punished in the second half as Quins fought back to win 31-21.

While he believes that his team performed well during the opening 40 minutes, Jones thinks that their slump after the break was influenced by the official.

"The scoreboard was shaped by the whistle," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News. "Our scrum was dominant, our kicking game was excellent, our strategic play was very good and there was a lot of good approach play in scoring two good tries.

"To score 21 points was very pleasing in one half but the territory dried up because of one technicality after another."

Newport are back in action next Friday when they host Ospreys in the LV= Cup.