Derby day misery continued for injury-struck Dragons as Cardiff scrapped to a narrow 16-9 victory in the BKT United Rugby Championship at a rain soaked Rodney Parade.
The Men of Gwent went into the game with high hopes but a series of first half injuries saw the pack totally reshuffled and the hosts struggling to make a telling impact.
A tight first half saw Cardiff take the lead courtesy of a charged down breakaway try from returning Wales international Mason Grady.
The second half was just as cagey but the boot of Tinus De Beer sent Cardiff clear and ensured the points went back to the capital before Angus O'Brien grabbed a late consolation losing bonus point.
Dragons were dealt a late blow before kick-off with Dan Lydiate denied a return to due personal reasons. A new-look back row saw George Nott promoted to the starting line-up.
Cardiff made the first break of the game as Cam Winnett took a neat chip over the top from De Beer and Ellis Jenkins supported, but the back row was isolated, and Keddie swarmed to win the penalty.
With rain lashing down in the opening stages it was Sio Tomkinson who rose highest to take a high up and under from O’Brien, but this time it was Cardiff who won the penalty on the floor.
Dragons opened the scoring courtesy of a long-range penalty from O’Brien but were dealt an early injury blow when Rodrigo Martinez limped off and was replaced by Rhodri Jones.
Cardiff were level three minutes later as De Beer slotted three points from on front of the posts. He repeated the feat at the midpoint of a tight half to edge he visitors ahead, while a blooded Sean Lonsdale was replaced by James Benjamin who slotted into the back row.
Cardiff should have had the opening try when Cabango stormed down the left and courtesy of a nice bounce and Grady, the ball was flung back to the winger, but he failed to collect with the line waiting.
Grady leapt high to take yet another kick from De Beer and after the attack broke down the play was pulled back for offside, only for visiting fly half De Beer to miss his kick.
The injuries were mounting with Joe Davies next to be flung on for Harri Keddie inside a bruising opening 26 minutes for the hosts.
Cardiff were looking to turn up the heat with O’Brien winning a turnover penalty on Grady as the capital side made strides into the home 22.
A superb take from Rosser then looked to spark a home attack, only for Cardiff to strike as a charged down kick fell kindly to release Grady who raced over from 60 metres.
Rosser thought he had hit straight back, after De Beer lost control of a kick cross field, but play called back for a forward pass and Dragons had to settle for three from O’Brien to cut the half-time lead to 13-6.
An early lineout steal released Bradley Roberts to give Dragons early impetus, but Rosser knocked on close to the line after a chip found him out wide.
Rosser was almost the beneficiary of a poor pass out wide, only to be dragged down before he could turn on the afterburners.
Wing partner Ashton Hewitt picked off a loose ball when Winnett lost a high kick, only for the ball to squirm lose as he went to floor.
De Beer should have made Dragons pay for a lack of killer edge, but he sent another penalty wide right.
Hewitt rolled out of a tackle to fire Dragons into the home 22, but lost ball when kicked through again saw the attack stall.
Leon Brown made his return on the hour to a huge ovation and immediately played his part in winning a crucial scrum penalty.
Ben Thomas broke from deep, after collecting a high kick, to put Cardiff back on the front foot. And a penalty for offside put the visitors 16-6 ahead with under 15 minutes left.
A final roll of the dice saw Will Reed come on before Brown burst a tackle and freed Rhodri Williams to race up close, only for Cardiff to turn ball over.
The only consolation came as O’Brien struck a late penalty to snatch a losing bonus point.
Timeline:
11m O’Brien p 3-0
14m De Beer p 3-3
19m De Beer p 3-6
33m Grady t De Beer c 3-13
37m O’Brien p 6-13
67m De Beer p 6-16
79m O’Brien p 9-16
Dragons RFC: Jordan Williams (Reed 71), Jared Rosser, Sio Tomkinson (Dixon 67), Steff Hughes, Ashton Hewitt, Angus O’Brien, Dane Blacker (R. Williams 56); Rodrigo Martinez (R. Jones 11), Bradley Roberts, Lloyd Fairbrother (Brown 60), Matthew Screech, Ben Carter, George Nott, Sean Lonsdale (Benjamin 19), Harri Keddie (J. Davies 26)
Replacements: James Benjamin, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Brodie Coghlan, Rhodri Williams, Will Reed, Jack Dixon
Cardiff Rugby: Cameron Winnett; Aled Summerhill, Mason Grady, Willis Halaholo, Theo Cabango; Tinus de Beer, Tomos Williams; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Kieran Assiratti, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Teddy Williams, Ellis Jenkins, Thomas Young, Seb Davies.
Replacements: Efan Daniel, Rhys Carré, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Lucas De La Rue, Ellis Bevan, Ben Thomas, Harri Millard
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)
Attendance: 5,272
