Josh Turnbull try helps Cardiff Blues edge Dragons

Adam Kyriacou
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Josh Turnbull was the hero for Cardiff Blues with a late try to secure derby bragging rights against the Dragons as they won 13-12 at Rodney Parade.

The Wales back-row forward went over from close range in the 67th minute, with Jarrod Evans converting for victory in the PRO14 clash in Newport.

It capped a strong second-half performance by the Blues after they had trailed 9-3 at the break courtesy of three penalties by Dragons fly-half Josh Lewis to one by opposite number Evans.

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The home side were hunting a first PRO14 win against their fiercest enemy since 2014 but came up short after spending almost all of the second half pinned inside their own territory.

They could have no complaints about an 11th successive championship loss to the men from the capital in a poor-quality clash in torrential rain.

The Dragons made a bright start and led 9-0 after 18 minutes thanks to fly-half Lewis punishing Blues indiscipline with three nice strikes in challenging conditions.

It took superb defence by Tavis Knoyle for the home side to retain their lead, with the scrum-half ripping the ball away from hooker Kristian Dacey on the line.

The Blues had enjoyed a period of pressure but were stopped from making that show on the scoreboard by errors in the 22.

They had been going for the corner with penalties but that changed on 32 minutes when Evans opened his account to make it 9-3.

That’s how it stayed at half-time, with the visitors happy to kick the ball out, confident that they would be able to turn the screw with the wind at their backs.

However, it was the Dragons that struck first, with Lewis punishing an offside six minutes after the resumption to make it 12-3, reaping the rewards of good ball retention when carrying hard.

The Blues went to the corner with a penalty and came within a yard of the line only to then knock on when playing with advantage, leading Evans to settle for splitting the posts to make it 12-6 after 54 minutes.

They were within a score and turned it into a good decision when they opted for the corner in the 67th minute.

The Blues claimed the line-out and then inched to the line with pick and drives before Turnbull got over, Evans’ conversion making it 13-12.

The visitors ended the game hunting a clincher but were denied from a driving line-out, ensuring the Dragons at least had the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Scarlets edge Ospreys in other derby

A late converted try from Angus O’Brien proved just enough for Scarlets to scrape a 16-14 win over Ospreys in a dour West Wales derby at Parc y Scarlets.

Scarlets had trailed throughout the match but conjured up a late piece of magic through O’Brien which Dan Jones converted to add to his three penalties.

It was rough justice on Ospreys, who had to surrender home advantage as their Liberty Stadium pitch was being re-laid.

They scored the best try of the game through Reuben Morgan-Williams with Stephen Myler kicking three penalties.

Welsh international Johnny McNicholl was a late withdrawal for Scarlets with O’Brien replacing him at full-back.

Ospreys lost a couple of line-outs which allowed their opponents to exert early pressure but Scarlets could not capitalise despite mounting a succession of close-range forward drives.

It was therefore against the run of play when Myler kicked his side into the lead with a straightforward penalty.

This was one of six penalties conceded by Scarlets in the first 16 minutes and they suffered a further setback when wing Tom Rogers was forced to leave the field with a leg injury.

Myler’s penalty was the only score of a featureless first quarter before the game sprung into life with an excellent solo try from Morgan-Williams.

Scarlets lost possession at a ruck 35 metres out and the scrum-half sold a dummy before racing away and outpacing O’Brien for a superb score.

Jones put Scarlets on the scoreboard with a penalty but then missed from 30 metres with his kick rebounding off a post. His side nearly made amends when Steff Hughes put in a well-judged cross-field kick but Steff Evans was unable to gather with not a defender in sight.

With the last kick of the half, O’Brien missed with a long-range attempt so Ospreys were able to retain their 8-3 lead at the interval.

Two minutes after the restart, Myler had an opportunity from a similar range and he made no mistake before he and Jones exchanged penalties.

Both sides brought on their experienced scrum-halves, Rhys Webb for Ospreys and Gareth Davies for Scarlets before Jones kicked his third penalty to leave trailing 14-9 going into the final quarter.

With nine minutes remaining, Scarlets scored the crucial try. Poor kicking from their opponents had surrendered territory and O’Brien capitalised by racing past two defenders to score with Jones’ conversion proving decisive.

Cardiff Rugby