The men of Gwent threw themselves at the Blues with a huge defensive effort with fly half Jason Tovey keeping his forwards on the front foot in the first half with a masterful kicking plan.
The Blues simply couldn’t get a foothold in the opening half and faced a 3-13 deficit at the break but to their credit they bounced back in the second spell but the clock beat them as the Dragons clung on for a rare victory over their arch rivals.
Blues outside half Gareth Davies had the first opportunity to open the scoring but his penalty sailed wide while Tovey shanked a rushed drop goal but eventually Dragons full back Tom Prydie put his side in front with an excellent penalty.
The Dragons increased their lead with a well worked try. A lineout was taken and the pack drove menacing towards the Blues try-line with hooker Elliott Dee protecting the ball at the back of the rolling maul. The Blues had no answer to the Dragons unstoppable surge and Dee dived over to score his first try in the league for the men of Gwent.
Prydie added the extras from wide out to make it 10-0 after 30 minutes on the clock. He then added another penalty before Davies finally hit the target to leave the Blues with a huge mountain to climb at the break.
The Dragons got off to a flying start in the second spell when another driving maul, with the backs adding their bulk and power, was illegally stopped by the Blues which gave referee Leighton Hodges no option but to award a penalty try. Prydie’s conversion extended the Dragons lead to 20-3.
Finally the Blues discovered some grit to drive second row Jarrad Hoeata over for a close range try with replacement fly half Gareth Anscombe converting with quarter of an hour left.
A nail biting finale was then set up when replacement scrum half Tavis Knoyle plunged over the Dragons try-line after a period of sustained pressure. Anscombe’s conversion brought the Blues to within three points but Prydie’s trusty boot notched another penalty to leave the Dragons celebrating victory.
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