Cardiff edge out Dragons in fiercely-fought derby clash
Cardiff Blues ground out a 16-12 win in a fiercely-fought derby with the Dragons before a sell-out crowd at the Arms Park.
The hosts were outscored by two tries to one but two penalties and a conversion from Jarrod Evans and a penalty from Jason Tovey were just enough to give Blues a valuable four points.
Shane Lewis-Hughes scored their only try with Taine Basham and Matthew Screech responding with tries for Dragons. Sam Davies added a conversion.
Dragons had the better of the opening 10 minutes but it was the hosts, who took the lead with the first try. The home side secured possession in the Dragons’ half for Evans to bemuse two defenders with a mazy run before providing flanker, Lewis-Hughes, with an easy run-in.
Evans converted but the visitors continued to dominate in terms of territory and possession but they lacked the expertise to break down a resolute Blues. In contrast, Blues looked sharp in attack with Evans pulling the strings and good support from Hallam Amos and Josh Adams ensured that their opponents’ defence was constantly under threat.
(Continue reading below...)
Blues suffered a blow when prop Keiron Assarati was forced off with a hip injury to be replaced by Scott Andrews but they overcame this setback to have more of the game in the second quarter and were rewarded with a penalty from Evans to extend their lead.
Two minutes from the interval, Dragons picked up the try that their first-half efforts deserved. On halfway, the visitors’ pack won a scrum penalty and a superb kick from Sam Davies secured his side a five-metre lineout. From there, Dragons’ pack rumbled forward for Basham to score with Davies missing the conversion to leave the Gwent side trailing 10-5 at half-time.
After the restart, Dragons lock Cory Hill was penalised for not releasing and now with the wind in his favour, Evans attempted the kick from halfway only to see it come back off the crossbar. Moments later, Dragons took the lead for the first time. Basham intercepted a pass from Josh Navidi to race into the home 22. The flanker was hauled down by Evans but the ball was recycled for Screech to burst through a hole in the opposition ranks to score.
Davies converted but Blues were quickly back in front when Dragons’ skipper Rhodri Williams was penalised for a high tackle and up stepped Evans to knock over the resulting kick. Evans was then replaced by Tovey but the former Dragon was unable to give Blues’ some breathing space as his 40-metre penalty attempt hit a post.
Blues still held a one-point advantage going into the final quarter which they dominated, but their sole reward was a Tovey penalty despite Dragons losing wing Ashton Hewitt to a yellow card.
- Press Association
WATCH: RugbyPass went behind the scenes with the Barbarians for their recent clash with Wales at the Principality Stadium
Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
Go to comments