By Andrew Collins
December 29 2006

Cardiff played their part in what can only be described as a match between two dire sides at an over crowded and aging Rodney Parade.

Fans made the short trip up the M4, but apparently the players didn’t.

 

Far too many of the Blues players failed to show up, while the also appalling Dragons just about scraped a one point win.

 

John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Wayne Evans and Ben Blair were all guilty of under performing, though in honesty it truly took a team effort to lose this one.

 

A first half try from Nathan Brew and 2 Sweeney penalties were only responded with a Xavier Rush try, and things hardly got better in the second.

 

Half Time

 

Newport Gwent Dragons 11 Cardiff Blues 5

 

Blair continued to miss countless penalties and conversions, slotting just one of five attempts.

 

Cardiff had the massive majority of possession, but failed to make it count until the last 10 minutes, when Paul Emerick was sin binned for killing the ball. Replacement flanker Ben White capped off a wonderful move started by Ed Fairhurst, another second half substitute, who found a gap nd made a good 20 metres. Chris Czekaj was up in support as was another sub, Bardley Davies. The 21 year-old held off the tackles before passing to White to score his second Cardiff Blues try.

 

Just a point behind, Blair stepped up for a match-winning conversion, but missed albeit from a tricky angle.

 

There was injury time to be played, but when Cardiff opted for touch from a penalty and Nick Robinson kicked the ball dead, it was clear that fans were going home with nothing but a losing bonus point.

 

Full Time

 

Newport Gwent Dragons 14 Cardiff Blues 13

 

theArmsPark.co.uk’s Man of the match – Xavier Rush

Best game his season for the Kiwi. Ran well, was abrasive and aggressive going forward, and made key tackles. He always made the yards, but was not backed up by his side, who looked like they didn’t want to be there.

 

Cardiff Blues

Macleod 7, Blair 7, J. Robinson 7, Shanklin 7, Czekaj 6, N. Robinson 7, Evans 5, Yapp 6, G. Williams 6, Filise 6, Jones 7, Goode 7, Morgan 7, Shellard 6, Rush 8