NEWPORT Gwent Dragons stepped up their preparations for the new season by scoring five tries in a 38-28 defeat of Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade.

The friendly, a benefit match for former centre Ashley Smith and current captain Lewis Evans, produced nine tries in total.

Dragons chief Kingsley Jones got a look at close to 30 of his players, and he would have been pleased with the way they hit the ground running.

Blues head coach Danny Wilson probably came away from the game with more to think about given his team’s first-half display – at one stage they trailed 31-0.

The Dragons showed their hand early on when, having been awarded a penalty 15 metres from the Blues’ line and in front of the posts, they had no hesitation in going for the posts.

Cardiff old boy Nick Macleod snaffled up the three points and then in no time at all the hosts had extended their lead to 17-0.

A couple of shunts from the forwards resulted in close-range scores for Rynard Landman and Elliot Dee. Macleod showed that he has been practicing his kicking during the summer with two successful conversions.

The Blues, playing in pink and navy stripes, were slow to get going, and when they did find a bit of space the final pass from Dan Fish failed to hit the mark.

Dragons new boy Pat Howard started on the wing rather than at centre, but he still made his presence felt, endearing himself to the home fans with a big hit on Garyn Smith.

South African Howard then looked on as fellow winger Adam Hughes went over.

It was a bad five minutes for Smith as it was his telegraphed pass near his own 10-metre line that Hughes intercepted before racing in under the posts. Macleod’s conversion stretched the lead to 24-0.

It got worse for the visitors, Nic Cudd touching down after yet more pressure from the Dragons. The metronomic boot of Macleod rubbed more salt into the wound.

Everything seemed to be going almost too well for Kingsley Jones’ men, and unfortunately there was cause for concern in the hosts’ camp when hooker Dee limped off with an injury to his right leg.

And after being second best since the kick-off, the Blues finally got on the scoreboard thanks to scrum-half Lewis Jones. Jarrod Evans converted.

The second half started like the first had ended with little in the way of structured play from either side.

Sarel Pretorious used his pace to good effect as he got back to deal with a kick through, while Men of Gwent skipper Evans felt the force of the Blues midfield.

There was eventually something to get the crowd excited when Rhys Thomas, on for Dee, grabbed the Dragons’ fifth try, again from close range.

Full-back Carl Meyer took over kicking duties and made no mistake – the Dragons now led 38-7.

To their credit, the Blues didn’t fold and they seemed to benefit from the changes made around the hour mark.

One of their replacements, Steve Shingler raced over in the corner, converted his own score, and then added the extra two points after Josh Navidi cantered in when a gap opened up in the Dragons’ defence.

And Fish had the last word, racing clear of the Dragons’ defence to dot down.

Dragons: Meyer; Hughes, Warren, Dixon, Howard; Macleod, Pretorius; T Davies, Dee, Harris, Crosswell, Landman, J Thomas, Cudd, Evans (capt). Reps: TR Thomas, Hobbs, Mitchell, Hill, Griffiths, Jackson, Davies, O’Brien, Screech, Jones, Gasson, Brew.