THERE are times when you have to own up and admit you were beaten by a better side even if you’ve given it pretty much everything and even if the victors are your closest neighbours.

Saturday night at the Cardiff City Stadium was one of those occasions when Newport Gwent Dragons fell to their eighth successive Magners League defeat against their big-city rivals.

Though the Dragons took the lead through a Matthew Jones penalty and showed a commitment far in excess of anything they had shown in their previous two matches this season they still shipped more than 40 points for the second successive league match at the ground.

As ever, the Dragons battled major injury problems, and it’s a big ask to try to overcome a side of such obvious ability as Cardiff Blues without players of the calibre of Jason Tovey, Ashley Smith, Martyn Thomas, skipper Tom Willis and Joe Bearman, while others like Gavin Thomas and Wayne Evans played though not fully fit.

But the Dragons still made a decent fist of it and for the first part of the second half fully stretched the Blues while they had clearly taken on board all the stick they had received from the coaches since their opening-day disaster against Connacht.

For all their endeavour they were clearly second best against a side who are now realising their potential and are establishing themselves as the domestic and European heavyweights the capital city of Wales ought to have.

The Blues were pretty much superior in all areas and they even had to overcome the early loss of talented Casey Laulala when the New Zealander was stretchered off amid fears of a serious neck injury, though these proved unfounded.

He was one of five key overseas players in the Blues’ ranks – six if you count replacement Michael Paterson, whereas the Dragons managed with just one as they continue to go down the local route, fielding 14 Welshmen in their starting line-up.

Be that as it may and whether it’s needs must or whether it’s down to having a smaller playing budget, the Dragons were often chasing shadows as their rivals used their power up front and greater cutting edge behind to carve out a victory.

Despite the wholehearted efforts of the entire team, and replacements for that matter, the Dragons still made too many mistakes and, crucially, could not retain possession of the ball for sufficiently long periods to really trouble the Blues.

There were individuals who did match their rivals, Thomas excellent throughout, Luke Charteris stealing the odd Blues line-out ball, Will Harries causing problems with his Shane Williams-type touches and Aled Brew’s physicality creating occasional panic.

But overall the Dragons were second best, and on the evidence so far they are going to struggle to improve their dismal record on the road with two hefty defeats in two attempts so far and little evidence to show they can improve on that.

The Blues were far more direct, clearly proved with their opening try when they moved the ball from their own 22, former Dragon Ceri Sweeney and Tom Shanklin interpassing sweetly down the left, Ben Blair linking up on the inside and Leigh Halfpenny in support on the inside again to streak clear for a marvellous try.

Blair was in supreme form, the New Zealander putting all his nine shots at goal over for a match haul of 23 points as he booted five penalties and four conversions. It’s a heady position to be in when you have to choose between Blair and Dan Parks as your main goal-kicker.

Before the interval lively hooker Rhys Thomas scored the first of his two tries, reward for his constant support and a reminder to Wales coach Warren Gatland that he is still around.

It was 20-6 at the interval, Matthew Jones landing two penalties, and soon after the interval he knocked over a third, and after Blair replied with one of his own Harries scored a delightful try – though there was an element of doubt in it – after linking with centres Rhodri Gomer Davies and Tom Riley to prove the Dragons could provide some real sparkle. But they couldn’t do it often enough. They kept on competing, though, and it wasn’t until they were a player down when Ben Castle was sin-binned for killing the ball that they finally capitulated and the Blues profited by scoring two tries, Thomas nabbing his second and Xavier Rush, who was generally well looked after, finally powering over.

Even then the Dragons commendably refused to lie down, and neat interpassing ended with replacement Adam Hughes dashing across for a late try.

The Dragons need not feel disgraced this time, as in Galway. They were just outgunned, they need their injured players back, and once they do and become more cohesive they can still make an impression this season.

Cardiff Blues: B Blair, L Halfpenny, C Laulala (D Hewitt 8), T Shanklin, C Czekaj, C Sweeney, L Williams, G Jenkins, R Thomas, S Andrews (J Yapp 54), B Davies, P Tito (captain), M Molitika (M Paterson (3-12, 50), X Rush, M Williams.

Scorers – tries: L Halfpenny, R Thomas (2), X Rush; conversions: B Blair (4); penalties: Blair (5).

Newport Gwent Dragons: W Harries, M Pewtner (A Hughes 50, N Hall 71), T Riley, R Gomer Davies, A Brew, M Jones (S Connor 40-46, 73), W Evans (N Griffiths 73), H Gustafson, S Jones (L Burns 65), B Castle (N Hall 81), L Charteris, captain (S Morgan 28-35), R Sidoli (S Morgan 58), D Lydiate (A Coombs 46-54, 79), G Thomas, R Sowden-Taylor.

Scorers – tries: W Harries, A Hughes; conversion: M Jones; penalties (3): Jones.

Referees: Nigel Owens (WRU).

Attendance: 11,194.

Argus star choice: Gavin Thomas.