Dragons RFC 22 – 24 Cardiff

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Cardiff battled back from a 15-point deficit to claim a 20th BKT United Rugby Championship victory in a row over the Dragons in an unbelievable Boxing Day derby. 

Not much more could have gone wrong for the Blue & Blacks in the first-half with only Teddy Williams salvaging a try as the fired up hosts claimed tries through Aaron Wainwright and Rio Dyer.

But the Blue & Blacks stormed back in an emphatic second-half performance with Josh Adams, Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Evan Lloyd all crossing. 

Lloyd’s try secured the bonus-point and comeback victory as Cardiff climbed to third in the URC table. 

The Dragons dominated the opening exchanges at a raucous Rodney Parade with Cardiff getting on the wrong side of the referee.

They took a deserved lead on 14 minutes with a neat set-play sending Aaron Wainwright storming over. Having kicked a penalty to the corner they won the ball and instantly went wide with the Wales Number Eight hitting a flat ball at pace. 

He cut inside two men as he stretched over with Angus O’Brien converting. The fly-half made it a 10-point lead minutes later and the hosts continued to fire into Matt Sherratt’s side. 

They claimed a second try in impressive style as O’Brien cross-kicked into space and Rio Dyer demonstrated the presence of mind to nudge the ball ahead, taking Gabriel Hamer-Webb out of the equation before dotting down. 

The try sent Rodney Parade into raptures and left a shell-shocked Cardiff facing an uphill task. 

Cardiff slowly regained their composure and enjoyed periods of territory but the fiercely committed Dragons were defending for their lives and continually made life difficult.

Finally, the travelling Blue & Blacks supporters had something to cheer about when Daf Hughes went close after breaking off a driving line out and Williams then stretched over.

Sheedy was unable to convert from the touchline but with the scores now 15-5, Cardiff had something to build upon.

They had other opportunities in the first-half but weren’t quite able to execute as they trailed by 10 at the break. 

However, they returned for the second-half, a team renewed and claimed a second try after just four minutes. 

Ben Thomas took the ball as first receiver from the set-piece and he released Josh Adams on a disguised loop, with Rey Lee-Lo running a fine decoy.

The wing burst clear and stepped Huw Anderson and Jared Rosser for his fourth try in three games. Sheedy converted and the Blue & Blacks were in touching distance at 15-12. 

A 30-man bout of handbags put a halt to Cardiff’s momentum and brought the Dragons and their partisan home crowd back into the encounter. 

Cardiff should have claimed a third when they caught the Dragons napping and found themselves with an overlap on the left, but Alex Mann was unable to release his hands. 

However, the Blue & Blacks did not take long to create another scoring opportunity and this time there was no mistake. 

Williams, the first-half try-scorer, created the initial opening as he found Sheedy out the back, the fly-half looped to the left and found Winnett in space. The Wales full-back now had possession with a two versus two and his jink and double-pump pass was enough to draw two men and put Hamer-Webb away.

Cardiff now boasted the lead for the first time and Sheedy’s touchline conversion crept over to make it 15-19. 

But the Dragons battled back and following a hectic period, with phases after phase of frantic action, Rhodri Williams sniped over. O’Brien was on target once again as the Dragons regained a three-point lead. 

Cardiff dominated the closing stages and kicked three penalties to the corner as the dogged Dragons continued to infringe. 

But the home line out defence eventually cracked as the Cardiff pack powered over with Evan Lloyd claiming the try. Sheedy’s touchline conversion sailed agonisingly wide and with three minutes to play Sherratt’s men led by two.

Typically of a game full of drama, there was plenty of action in the closing stages but Cardiff closed the game out with Rey Lee-Lo nudging the ball into touch.

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