Blues slay the Dragons

Still reeling from their penalty shoot-out exit from the Heineken Cup at the hands of Leicester, Cardiff Blues claimed a 26-12 win against the Dragons in the Magners League.

Still reeling from their penalty shoot-out exit from the Heineken Cup at the hands of Leicester over the weekend, Cardiff Blues claimed a 26-12 win against the Dragons in an error strewn Magners League match.

With the lowest-placed Welsh region in the Magners League forced into a play-off in Italy to determine European qualification, the game was more important than might have been expected of one between the sides placed last but one and last but two in the table.

The Blues recognised its importance by naming seven of Sunday's starting line-up and two of them provided the points to give them an interval lead.

Kiwi full-back Ben Blair kicked two early penalties, the second for a ruck offence which earned Dragons prop Adam Black a yellow card from referee Nigel Owens.

The visitors, with a strong wind at their backs, responded with 20-year-old Jason Tovey capitalising on a poor clearance kick by former Dragon Ceri Sweeney and dropping a goal from near halfway.

But a careless pass by Dragons fly-half Shaun Connor was grabbed by Blues centre Shanklin, who raced 60 yards to the posts, providing an easy conversion for Blair.

Tovey pulled three points back with a penalty after a good run by Rhodri Gomer-Davies, but, despite their territorial advantage, the Dragons were still behind at the break.

After an undistinguished opening to the second period, Blair kicked two penalties and replacement Dragons fly-half James Arlidge responded with one of his own.

Matters seemed to swing the Dragons' way when Blues winger Tom James was sin-binned and Arlidge slotted the resulting kick, but once again the visitors committed suicide with an unforced error.

Flanker Dan Lydiate, on his own 22, tried a looping pass which was grabbed by Blues centre Jamie Robinson to score with ease.

Blair converted and the Blues were home and dry.

The scorers:

For Cardiff Blues:
Tries: Shanklin, Robinson
Pen: Blair 4
Cons: Blair 2

For Dragons:
Pen: Tovey, Arlidge 2
Drop: Tovey

Yellow Card: Adam Black (Dragons, 8 min), Tom James (Cardiff, 68 min)

Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Gareth Thomas, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Tom Shanklin, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Robin Sowden Taylor (c), 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Scott Morgan, 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Tauf'ao Filise, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 John Yapp, 17 Gareth Williams, 18 Bradley Davies, 19 Xavier Rush, 20 Darren Allinson, 21 Nicky Robinson, 22 Richard Mustoe.

Dragons: 15 Jason Tovey, 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Rhodri Gomer Davies, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Shaun Connor, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Lewis Evans, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Hoani Macdonald, 3 Nigel Hall, 2 Tom Willis (captain), 1 Adam Black.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Hugh Gustafson, 18 Andrew Hall, 19 Grant Webb, 20 Aled Brew, 21 James Arlidge, 22 Alex Walker.