Cardiff take derby spoils 31-14 against Dragons in URC

The Rodney Parade region suffered a 14th straight defeat to their closest rivals after being downed 31-14 in the capital.

It looks a comprehensive win for the Blue and Blacks but the Dragons will look back with regret at some missed chances when they had the wind at their backs and it was a one-score game.

The Dragons trailed 21-7 at the break after tries by Wales internationals Josh Adams, Rhys Carre and James Botham to one by Angus O’Brien.

They got back into it early in the second half through hooker Bradley Roberts but then snatched at chances to level things up.

Indiscipline crept back in and Jarrod Evans kicked a key penalty and then sparked a superb clincher for impressive flanker Thomas Young.

It stretched the nightmare losing streak that goes back to the European Challenge Cup quarter-final triumph at Rodney Parade in 2015.

The Dragons look a tougher team this season yet the harsh reality is that they have won just one of five games and next up is a date with the Ospreys, Wales’ best side, in Newport.

Physicality levels were more like the Rodney Parade efforts against Munster and the Sharks but the accuracy just let them down at key moments.

They will hope to raise themselves to cause an upset against the Ospreys but they will do it without Taine Basham, who looks set for a lengthy lay-off after needing pain relief for a serious knock to his right elbow when carrying the ball.

The Dragons are well-stocked in the back row but the Wales flanker’s explosiveness will be missed as they look to finish the first block of the URC strongly against their rivals from Swansea and Zebre.

They can talk about positives but they need four-pointers.

Rhys Carre barges over (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The Dragons were under pressure playing into the wind in the first half after getting on the wrong side of referee Craig Evans.

The penalties gave Cardiff prime attacking positions that they exploited to move 14-0 up after 16 minutes thanks to a pair of superb finishes by Wales internationals.

First wing Adams went over after a good step and finish down the left and then loosehead Carre smashed his way over after targeting the 10 channel from lineout ball off the top.

Fly-half Jarrod Evans converted both and the visitors needed to compose themselves and get some territory.

They did just that to cut the gap to 14-7 after 24 minutes after patience, physicality and a nice finish in the 22.

Penalties were kicked to the corner and the Dragons hammered away before JJ Hanrahan used Ross Moriarty as a decoy to put O’Brien over before converting the fly-half’s try.

The Dragons were back under pressure when what seemed to be a superb tap tackle by Rhodri Williams on Max Llewellyn was deemed to have been a tackle while he was on the floor.

It was split-second stuff but led to a spell down to 14 men and try number three soon came when hooker Kristian Dacey put in lovely pass to the right wing for recently-on flanker Botham to steamroller O’Brien, who didn’t stand a chance.

Evans converted for 21-7 but the Dragons kept the damage down to seven points, albeit they headed into the break after losing Basham.

They were forced into a change at the break with centre Sio Tomkinson, who had received treatment in the first half, replaced by Steff Hughes.

Cardiff then suffered their own blow with Adams forced off with an injury to his right wrist that happened in the first 40.

The Dragons had the wind at their backs and were hunting a score to put them right back in it; they pinned Cardiff in their half and struck.

A line break by loosehead Aki Seiuli, after a stolen lineout by Will Rowlands and offload by Moriarty, put them in the 22 and Roberts found the line for a try that Hanrahan converted.

It was one-way traffic and a leveller looked possible when wing Rio Dyer jinked into the 22 but Roberts knocked on five metres out.

It remained 21-14 and tense going into the final quarter but frustrating penalties enabled Cardiff to stay out of trouble as the clocked ticked down.

A breakdown offence by replacement hooker Elliot Dee gave Evans the chance to make it a two-score game from the tee and the playmaker took it.

The Dragons’ hopes were killed off from the restart when the fly-half jinked past Will Rowlands and Rhodri Jones, stepped O’Brien and drew Hanrahan to put Young racing clear.

Cardiff scorers: tries – Adams, Carre, Botham, Young; conversion – J Evans (4); penalty – J Evans

Dragons: O’Brien; Dyer, Tomkinson (S Hughes 40), Dixon, Rosser (J Williams 69); Hanrahan, R Williams (Bertranou 63); Seiuli (R Jones 56), Roberts (Dee 56), Fairbrother (Coleman 56), Carter, Rowlands (captain), Lonsdale (Wainwright 52), Basham (Keddie 39), Moriarty.

Scorers: tries – O’Brien, Roberts; conversion – JJ Hanrahan (2).

Referee: Craig Evans.