Blank day for Blues
Play-off hopefuls Cardiff Blues failed even to secure a bonus point as they lost 28-15 at Newport Gwent Dragons.
Last Updated: 29/04/11 11:03pm
Play-off hopefuls Cardiff Blues failed even to secure a bonus point as they lost 28-15 at Newport Gwent Dragons.
The result means the Blues stay just one point ahead of the Ospreys in fourth place in the Magners League table.
The final play-off positions will be decided next weekend as the Blues face the Scarlets, while the Ospreys will be at basement side Aironi.
Dragons teenager Steffan Jones went over for a debut try on seven minutes when he burst through a gap in the Blues' defence between full-back Dan Fish and lock Bradley Davies to dive over in the corner.
And he grabbed a late penalty from 50 metres which helped to deny the Blues a potentially crucial losing bonus point.
Jones' early try reclaimed the lead for the Dragons after outside-half Dan Parks had landed the first points of the afternoon with a penalty.
On 14 minutes, Dragons wing Aled Brew claimed his 16th try of the season after a cross-kick from stand-off Jason Tovey was beaten down by Luke Charteris into the Wales international's hands for an easy run-in from five metres.
Tovey kicked the Dragons further into the lead but, when home lock Adam Jones was sent to the sin-bin for preventing the ball from coming out of a ruck on his line, the Blues got back into the match.
Flanker Sam Warburton immediately grabbed a try from a pick-up and drive by Xavier Rush at an attacking scrum and, after the break, a line-out take five metres out by replacement lock Deiniol Jones saw the Blues pack drive over the line and Rush come up with the ball.
That levelled matters at 15-15 and the visitors looked favourites to win.
Momentum
But they lost the momentum and, despite dominating the scrums, they could not get over the line again.
The Dragons re-took the lead when a lineout close to the Blues' line saw Charteris take the throw and he helped his pack drive replacement back-rower Andrew Coombs over for a converted try.
That made it 22-15 and Steffan Jones' booming 50-metre penalty gave the Dragons a 10-point cushion.
Scrum-half Wayne Evans completed the scoring for the home side with a drop-goal from 10 metres right on full time.
