The Dragons scored the only try of the match through winger Will Harries in the first half but the Blues forward power paved the way for Leigh Halfpenny to kick the home side to victory in the second half.
The win sees the Blues climb one place to ninth in the points table while the Dragons remain in sixth after they were denied a losing bonus point due to Halfpenny’s boot.
The Blues ran onto the pitch with shaved heads – with the exception of Josh Navidi whose dreadlocks are still intact – in support of Matthew Rees as he undergoes medical treatment at Velindre.
Try-scoring chances were at a premium throughout in an attritional context. The Blues nullified the attacking threat of Toby Faletau who was largely anonymous although the Dragons stayed in the game due to Dan Evans and Jason Tovey’s kicking game which was exemplary.
Rhys Patchell put the home side in front with a well struck penalty after Lewis Evans was penalised for not allowing Halfpenny to release the ball in the tackle.
Halfpenny had a chance to double the lead but his long range attempt dropped short. Tovey then struck an upright when offered a shot for goal after the Blues backs were caught offside and the normally reliable Dragons pivot fired his next shot wide as well.
By the time the Blues had reached 9-0 thanks to Halfpenny’s boot it looked ominous for the Dragons but the visitors stunned the Blues with a great counter-attacking try from halfway.
Ashley Smith claimed a bouncing ball and offloaded to full back Dan Evans who scooted down the touchline. He drew Halfpenny before passing to the supporting Harries who darted over unopposed. With Tovey’s easy conversion the Dragons were right back in it.
With an extra spring in their step, the Dragons surged back into Blues territory where Tovey was able to put the Dragons ahead for the first time with a close range penalty.
With a slender 10-9 lead at the break, the Dragons grabbed another three points through Tovey as the rain began to bucket down.
Gethin Jenkins was penalised at a scrum and but Tovey fired his shot wide as the game continued to struggle to get out of first gear in trying conditions.
Faletau was penalised at a lineout and Halfpenny brought the score back to within a point with his third success of the afternoon.
Smith was penalised for not rolling away at a ruck and Halfpenny edged the Blues back in front 15-13 with the penalty. Halfpenny then had a chance to give the Blues some extra breathing space but he rushed his shot wide.
Gareth Davies then took matters into his own hands and snapped over a drop goal and Halfpenny sealed the win with his sixth success of the afternoon after Faletau was harshly adjudged to have slapped the ball out of Blues scrum half Lloyd Williams’ grasp.
