By Mark Denham
Cardiff Blues took the bragging rights at Rodney Parade in this festive encounter after holding their nerve through a fascinating period of additional time.
Shaun Connor opened the scoring for the home side after four minutes with a well-struck penalty. Following a good spell of territory and possession, the Blues had a chance to level the scores through Ben Blair, only for the Kiwi to miss his penalty kick by some distance.
Blair did level the scores after twenty-eight minutes of the first half following some unremarkable post Christmas play from both sides. Following the Dragons’ kick off, play continued to centre around the middle of the park with neither side gaining much territory. However, the home side would soon register the first try of the game through wingman Richard Fussell when he picked up a loose pass to race thirty yards for a simple try under the posts that Connor would obligingly convert.
The Blues soon pegged the score back to 10-6 with a Ben Blair penalty, but the Men of Gwent extended their lead to 13-6 just before half time with another penalty from Connor’s boot. The Blues looked to finish the half the stronger side but were unable to do so, going in to the interval a converted try score behind.
Barely a minute into the second half the Blues took the lead, Mama Molitika finding space on the touchline to pick up the bouncing ball and stroll over the line and under the posts. Blair converted to level the scores and set up what would become a tense second half.
Referee James Jones would go to the T.M.O. for the next points decision when the accuracy of a Shaun Connor penalty had been inconclusive to the eyes of the touch-judges beneath the posts. Fortunately, television replays had shown that the Dragons fly half had been successful with his kick and had therefore ensured the Dragons re-took the lead at 16-13.
Mr Jones would be in the thick of the action later when fourteen minutes into the second half the referee awarded a penalty to the home side for an earlier high tackle on Fussell by Molitika. Connor maintained his 100% kicking record by extending his side’s lead to 19-13.
The Blues came back strong minutes later, former Dragon Ceri Sweeney scoring in the corner much to the displeasure of the home support. Blair was unable to convert the try from a difficult angle, meaning that the Dragons kept the league by a slender one point at 19-18.
David Young’s men appeared to rally following the try, securing vast amounts of possession in the Dragons 22 but without gaining much further ground. The referee eventually awarded the Blues a penalty in front of the posts when the Dragons were penalised for infringing at the ruck; Blair slotted home to give his side the lead for the first time in the game.
Paul Tuner brought on James Arlidge and Robert Lewis with ten minutes remaining to try and swing the game back in his side’s favour through the half back positions. Whilst the Dragons endeavour could never be questioned, the Blues looked very strong in defence across the park and ultimately held out the home side. In fact, the Cardiff outfit would be relieved to hear James Jones’ whistle after a remarkably tense period of additional time during which the Dragons failed to secure the win with three missed drop goal attempts.
“I've told the players how proud I was of them and we've come a long way” said Dragons coach Paul Turner. “I thought there were certain little things that happened today that a year ago we were way off the mark with.
“I did feel Cardiff Blues had just that little bit more power at key stages, but they were out on their feet at the end and I felt we should have dropped the goal to win it” continued Turner. “As a spectacle [though] it must have been pretty exciting”.
Blues coach David Young felt his side deserved the victory and was disappointed that they hadn’t done so with more conviction.
“The disappointing factor for us and what we talked about at half-time is we gifted them seven points” said the former Welsh International prop.” The last two or three minutes were nerve-wracking, but I thought we showed our determination in holding them out”.
Despite being unable to complete a festive double derby following last week’s win against the Ospreys, the Dragons did very little wrong in this game. Unfortunately, the difference maker was the Blues’ defence on Boxing Day, being as it was both organised and strong. A full house at Rodney Parade would have been proud of their team’s efforts, albeit a little frustrated that their rejuvenated side had not secured another Magners League victory that was there for the taking.
Cardiff Blues took the bragging rights at Rodney Parade in this festive encounter after holding their nerve through a fascinating period of additional time.
Shaun Connor opened the scoring for the home side after four minutes with a well-struck penalty. Following a good spell of territory and possession, the Blues had a chance to level the scores through Ben Blair, only for the Kiwi to miss his penalty kick by some distance.
Blair did level the scores after twenty-eight minutes of the first half following some unremarkable post Christmas play from both sides. Following the Dragons’ kick off, play continued to centre around the middle of the park with neither side gaining much territory. However, the home side would soon register the first try of the game through wingman Richard Fussell when he picked up a loose pass to race thirty yards for a simple try under the posts that Connor would obligingly convert.
The Blues soon pegged the score back to 10-6 with a Ben Blair penalty, but the Men of Gwent extended their lead to 13-6 just before half time with another penalty from Connor’s boot. The Blues looked to finish the half the stronger side but were unable to do so, going in to the interval a converted try score behind.
Barely a minute into the second half the Blues took the lead, Mama Molitika finding space on the touchline to pick up the bouncing ball and stroll over the line and under the posts. Blair converted to level the scores and set up what would become a tense second half.
Referee James Jones would go to the T.M.O. for the next points decision when the accuracy of a Shaun Connor penalty had been inconclusive to the eyes of the touch-judges beneath the posts. Fortunately, television replays had shown that the Dragons fly half had been successful with his kick and had therefore ensured the Dragons re-took the lead at 16-13.
Mr Jones would be in the thick of the action later when fourteen minutes into the second half the referee awarded a penalty to the home side for an earlier high tackle on Fussell by Molitika. Connor maintained his 100% kicking record by extending his side’s lead to 19-13.
The Blues came back strong minutes later, former Dragon Ceri Sweeney scoring in the corner much to the displeasure of the home support. Blair was unable to convert the try from a difficult angle, meaning that the Dragons kept the league by a slender one point at 19-18.
David Young’s men appeared to rally following the try, securing vast amounts of possession in the Dragons 22 but without gaining much further ground. The referee eventually awarded the Blues a penalty in front of the posts when the Dragons were penalised for infringing at the ruck; Blair slotted home to give his side the lead for the first time in the game.
Paul Tuner brought on James Arlidge and Robert Lewis with ten minutes remaining to try and swing the game back in his side’s favour through the half back positions. Whilst the Dragons endeavour could never be questioned, the Blues looked very strong in defence across the park and ultimately held out the home side. In fact, the Cardiff outfit would be relieved to hear James Jones’ whistle after a remarkably tense period of additional time during which the Dragons failed to secure the win with three missed drop goal attempts.
“I've told the players how proud I was of them and we've come a long way” said Dragons coach Paul Turner. “I thought there were certain little things that happened today that a year ago we were way off the mark with.
“I did feel Cardiff Blues had just that little bit more power at key stages, but they were out on their feet at the end and I felt we should have dropped the goal to win it” continued Turner. “As a spectacle [though] it must have been pretty exciting”.
Blues coach David Young felt his side deserved the victory and was disappointed that they hadn’t done so with more conviction.
“The disappointing factor for us and what we talked about at half-time is we gifted them seven points” said the former Welsh International prop.” The last two or three minutes were nerve-wracking, but I thought we showed our determination in holding them out”.
Despite being unable to complete a festive double derby following last week’s win against the Ospreys, the Dragons did very little wrong in this game. Unfortunately, the difference maker was the Blues’ defence on Boxing Day, being as it was both organised and strong. A full house at Rodney Parade would have been proud of their team’s efforts, albeit a little frustrated that their rejuvenated side had not secured another Magners League victory that was there for the taking.
