Newport Gwent Dragons lost their final pre season game against Bath but gave Head Coach Paul Turner plenty of heart with a gutsy display.
Dragons new comers Joe Bearman and Nic Fitisemanu both played well while Colin Charvis was given a rapturous applause when he came onto the field in the second half.
The Dragons conceded an early try when hooker Lee Mears scored in the corner for an unconverted try. Bath nearly got on the try scoring sheet again after Rhys Thomas was penalised for a scuffle with Steve Borthwick, and desperate try saving tackles from Aled Thomas and Aled Brew held up Bath wing Andy Higgins.
Craig Warlow enjoyed a night of superb line kicking which kept Bath pinned deep in their own half but for The Dragons passes didn't go to hand and the lineout faltered at crucial times.
Sweeney slotted over a huge 45m penalty to reduce the arrears to two points going into the second half.
Richard Wilkes joined fellow academy member Alex Walker on the field at the end of the first half when hooker Ben Daly was forced to leave the field with an elbow injury.
The second half turned into a scrappy affair and there was no love lost between the two sides especially when Gareth Delve was sent to the sin bin after repeatedly punching Bearman. Charvis replaced Bearman in the 52nd minutes and was greeted by a huge cheer. This seemed to spur on The Dragons only for them to concede a try completely against the run of play when Shaun Byrne intercepted a pass and ran clear to score in the corner a try which Olly Barkley converted.
Mike Hercus made his Rodney Parade debut replacing Warlow and he immediately made an impact freeing Charvis who freed Aled Brew down the wing.
Bath replacement flanker James Scaysbrook was sent to the sin bin after stopping Alex Walker from taking a quick tap penalty and then another yellow card followed after Charvis was judged to have interfered in a ruck.
Despite the defeat The Dragons can take heart from their performance where they went toe-to-toe with the Guinness Premiership side and introduced a number of academy members who will only learn from the experience.
