| Dragons (10) 18 |
| Tries: Dixon, Griffiths Cons: S Davies Pens: Reed 2 |
| Cardiff (10) 19 |
| Try: L Williams Cons: Priestland Pens: Priestland 4 |
Rhys Priestland kicked Cardiff into victory against Dragons during a United Rugby Championship match where each side had a player sent out.
Will Reed, Dragons flyhalf, missed a penalty in the 79th minute to seal the win.
In the first half, Joe Davies (Dragons lock) and Liam Belcher (City hooker) were both sent home.
Priestand's 14 point haul was enhanced by a Lloyd Williams attempt, while Jack Dixon and Ollie Griffiths scored for Dragons.
Craig Evans, referee, sent Davies home in 16 minutes for a dangerous shoulder to Rhys Carre's head.
Belcher was kicked off just before the half-time break for swinging arm tackles on Dragons flyhalf Reed. He suffered heartbreak in his second professional appearance despite displaying an impressive performance.
Cardiff was able to secure their first away victory of the league. Dragons have yet to win at Rodney Parade this year, their only victories being at Connacht (Scarlets) and Connacht.
Dragons won against Scarlets in the Rainbow Cup, April 2021. Since then they have not defeated Cardiff.
This was not a derby of the greatest importance with Cardiff 13th in URC Table and Dragons two places lower.
Before the squad is announced next week, the Dragons' back rowers Ollie Griffiths (Dragons) and Harrison Keddie (Dragons) will have reminded Wayne Pivac of their skills.
Williams, Cardiff scrum-half, displayed his fine form with a man of the match display.
Derby date change
This was the final Welsh derby in the United Rugby Championship. It was originally scheduled for New Year's Day. postponed because both regions had a number of Covid-19 casesIn their camps.
As one of the three Dragons' changes, Hooker Elliot Dee was back with flanker Ben Fry starting and centre Dixon starting. Cardiff was left unchanged.
Priestland opened the scoring by scoring a penalty, but Davies' transgression was followed by Reed scoring a penalty.
Following a clean break by Owen Lane, Cardiff wing, as he glided out Dixon and gave an inside pass for scrum half Williams, a mediocre first-half was lifted.
After Belcher was given his red card, the numbers were evened. Dragons took advantage of the situation immediately, with number eight Griffiths running over from an attacking scrum.
Sam Davies, the replacement fly-half, converted to make it 10-10 at halftime.
Priestland, who scored Cardiff's second penalty, missed two goals.
Cabango displayed his speed and determination with a quick burst down to the left touchline. However, the attack failed.
Dragons were more calm when they allowed Dixon to crash in the right corner, giving the hosts the lead.
Two penalties were kicked by Priestland as Cardiff regained possession. Reed then added a kick in order to reduce the deficit.
The late replacements included Josh Turnbull, the Cardiff captain, who had recently recovered from a problem with his calf, and Lloyd Fairbrother of Dragons, who missed the previous year because of an Achilles injury.
The referee Evans penalized Cardiff and sought the exact mark for Reed’s late kick. There was some confusion in the end.
Although it was a good position for the Dragons kicker, he was not as successful as Cardiff's closest rivals.
Dragons: J Williams; Dyer, Warren, Dixon, Rosser; Reed, Bertranou; Seiuli, Dee, Doge, J Davies, Carter, Keddie (captain), Fry, Griffiths.
Replacements:Benjamin, Bateman and Fairbrother. Taylor, Basham. R Williams, S Davies. J Lewis.
Cardiff Rugby Morgan; Lane, Lee-Lo, Llewellyn, Cabango: Priestland, L Williams; Carré, Belcher, Arhip, S Davies, Screech, Botham, Navidi (capt), Ratti.
Replacements:Myhill.
Referee:Craig Evans (WRU).
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse & Tom Spurrier (WRU)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU).
