With a sell-out crowd behind them the Dragons led at half-time 17-6 however the Blues snatched the lead back thanks to a Rhys Patchell penalty kick in the last minute ending the match on 21-20 to the opposition.
Unfortunately Dragons players, Sarel Pretoruis and Boris Stankovich pulled out of the match-day squad late because of failing a late fitness test, so it was Charlie Davies and Shaun Knight who took on their positions.
It was the hosts that put the first points on the board with a lovely drop goal from Dorian Jones after 6 minutes. The Men of Gwent stretched further into the lead with a superb try from Ashton Hewitt. This came from a fantastic charge to the try-line from Man of the Match Nick Crosswell, who in turn sent Hewitt over in the corner. Unfortunately, the difficult conversion went wide of the posts for Jones.
However the Blues added their own points to the board through the boot of Rhys Patchell.
The Dragons had the final say in the first half however with a penalty kick from Jones from the 40m line to make it 11-6.
Half Time: Newport Gwent Dragons 11 – Cardiff Blues 6
Once again it was the hosts who added the first set of points in the second half, thanks to another Dorian Jones penalty after going close from a 10m line out.
However the Blues came back hard after Patchell kicked to the corner. The line out was taken successfully and they pushed toward the try line but Lewis Evans was penalised which resulted in a yellow card for him and a penalty try for the Blues. Patchell added the extras and the scores stood 17-11.
Replacement fly-half Jason Tovey responded with a penalty kick but the Blues saw a gap in the Dragons defence which saw Tom James cross the white wash. Patchell however didn’t make the conversion and the Dragons led 20-18 with just under 5 minute left on the clock.
But Patchell was given another chance to take the win at the death and this time he didn’t miss, kicking the penalty over the posts to end the game on 21-20 to the Blues.
