Despite the fireworks and flames before the kick-off there was little explosive action on the pitch as the Dragons fell to their second league defeat of the season.
It was the Blues who had the first chance to score but young fly half Rhys Patchell's kick went wide of the uprights. The Dragons then took the game by the horns and despite missing two penalties, one by Tom Prydie and a long range attempt by Steffan Jones which hit the goal posts and cross bar before bouncing back into play, looked the more likely to score.
A superb covering tackle by Tom Prydie on Cuthbert then denied the visitors once more, despite all that pressure the Blues scored first through a Patchell penalty. The Dragons then responded immediately with some great teamwork from both the Dragons’ forwards and backs resulting in a Steffan Jones’ try, which was set up by a dynamic run from Toby Faletau. The Dragons had secured a quick ball from a succession of rucks and Jones beat the Blues defence to score, making the half time score 5-3.
Soon after the second half kicked off, the video ref had a tough call to make when the Dragons had thought they'd crossed the Blues whitewash. But it was Cuthbert who did the crossing to score the Blues only try of the game after 48 minutes, Patchell duly converted.
The home crowd of 7331 didn't have much more to cheer as the Blues looked comfortable for the rest of the game adding two late penalties to make the final score 16-5 therefore denying the Dragons a home losing bonus point, making it the Blues first win at Rodney Parade since 2010.
It was the Blues who had the first chance to score but young fly half Rhys Patchell's kick went wide of the uprights. The Dragons then took the game by the horns and despite missing two penalties, one by Tom Prydie and a long range attempt by Steffan Jones which hit the goal posts and cross bar before bouncing back into play, looked the more likely to score.
A superb covering tackle by Tom Prydie on Cuthbert then denied the visitors once more, despite all that pressure the Blues scored first through a Patchell penalty. The Dragons then responded immediately with some great teamwork from both the Dragons’ forwards and backs resulting in a Steffan Jones’ try, which was set up by a dynamic run from Toby Faletau. The Dragons had secured a quick ball from a succession of rucks and Jones beat the Blues defence to score, making the half time score 5-3.
Soon after the second half kicked off, the video ref had a tough call to make when the Dragons had thought they'd crossed the Blues whitewash. But it was Cuthbert who did the crossing to score the Blues only try of the game after 48 minutes, Patchell duly converted.
The home crowd of 7331 didn't have much more to cheer as the Blues looked comfortable for the rest of the game adding two late penalties to make the final score 16-5 therefore denying the Dragons a home losing bonus point, making it the Blues first win at Rodney Parade since 2010.
