There's not been a great deal to cheer about for Dragons fans this season.
Granted, that's a sentence that can be pushed out from year to year, but this has been worse than most. Just the one win, way back in October, for Dean Ryan's side has left them drifting towards a nadir.
The 2017/18 campaign is currently their worst, with just two victories and two draws to their name that year, but, with six games left, it's not out of the question this current season could nab that grim record.
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After a run of three half-century thrashings, a five-point defeat to Gloucester in their final Challenge Cup pool stage match was, in some sense, progress. Despite throwing away a half-time lead to once again fall to defeat, the tag of plucky losers is at least better than being blown off the park.
However, amongst the misery of yet another defeat, there were some positives. Sam Davies returned from a rare week off to run the game with aplomb, while Jack Dixon put in a performance befitting of his 150th appearance.
However, if you were looking for a standout performance, you'd be struggling to look beyond captain Harri Keddie in the Dragons' back-row. The former Wales U20s star was everywhere, playing a crucial part in their first two tries before racing over for one of his own on the brink of half-time.
Some six years on from being a crucial part of Wales' U20s Six Nations Grand Slam, the uncapped Keddie is now shining as brightly as any of his international team-mates. The likes of Aaron Wainwright, Taine Basham and Ross Moriarty are all Welsh Test stars, but it's been Keddie who has led from the front.
“He has been incredible for weeks. He was man of the match by some way against Gloucester,” said director of rugby Ryan. “He has the highest work rate of the side every week but he is starting to be smarter about how he uses that.
"I don’t think that he chases the game as he did in the past – he tried to look for work rather than being smarter. We spoke about letting the game come back to him and we are seeing the dividends with him getting the ball in open space more often.
"We have never worried about star names. They have to come up and match what he has been doing, and Ollie Griffiths was another one that set the bar high. If he was fit then there might be a situation where not all our current Wales internationals would be in [the matchday 23].”
His assist for Jared Rosser's try, slipping a neat offload out to the winger after carrying in the wide channels, summed up the barnstorming night for one of the Dragons' most consistent performers this year. And, along with the line he took for his own try, spoke to the way the Dragons are keen on playing.
A high-tempo brand of rugby bringing about some impressive tries might be one way to keep fans happy in lieu of victories, with more than a few already expressing doubts about renewing season tickets as apathy grows.
“That first half is how we want to play,” said Keddie. “It’s the style we had at times last year and we have been trying to get back to this year.
“We have some big derby games coming up, plus a big away game in Zebre, with a chance to keep building on that. There is lots of good to look at, but there is also lots of things we have got to tighten up if we want to get over the line in the last six games.
“I am just looking to get out there and do my job – it’s that simple. Everyone must stick together at the minute. It’s tough with the run of results we’re on, but we’re keeping our heads down, everyone is looking to do their job for the team and believing we will get there."
With back-to-back derbies against the Scarlets coming up, followed by matches with the Ospreys, Zebre, Cardiff and the Lions, things may get worse before they get better for the Dragons. When the west Walians rock up at Rodney Parade for the second clash between the sides towards the end of this month, it will be near enough a year to the day since the Dragons last won at home - coincidentally against the Scarlets.
If the Dragons are to end that wretched streak, or indeed the winless run of 13 games, before the season is done, then the likelihood is Keddie will be to the fore.
