Dragons suffered heartbreak when replacement Sharks hooker Fez Mbatha scored an 85th-minute try to clinch a dramatic United Rugby Championship (URC) bonus-point win at Rodney Parade.
The hosts had opened up a 22-5 lead following tries from flanker Taine Basham, prop Chris Coleman and scrum-half Rhodri Williams, with captain Vincent Tshituka responding for the visitors.
Sharks battled back either side of half-time with tries from Springboks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, centre Jurenzo Julius and wing Ethan Hooker.
Dragons captain Ben Carter scored the bonus-point try but Mbatha popped up for the crucial score in the fifth minute of added time.
Player of the match Basham was brilliant in his first start of the season after recovering from tendonitis issues.
Scrum-half Williams and flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes also starred for Dragons but the hosts also missed four kicks at goal.
Dan Lydiate was included in the back row at number eight but Wales prop Leon Brown was a late withdrawal because of illness with Aaron Wainwright and Elliot Dee also injured.
Sharks were missing World Cup-winning Springboks such as Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche and Lukhanyo Am but scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse was included as the only change to the starting side that lost 36-30 in Connacht.
Hendrikse was one of two sets of brothers included alongside full-back Jordan, with the Tshituka siblings - captain Vincent and Emmanuel - both playing in the back row.
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