By Lestyn
December 27 2003

Like so many of the of the all Welsh matches this season, Friday's East Wales derby proved to be another disappointing encounter.

Like so many of the of the all Welsh matches this season, Friday's East Wales derby proved to be another disappointing encounter. Gregg Davies put in a typical Scottish refereeing whistle happy showing as the battle to avoid a likely spot in next season's Parker Pen cup, degenerated into a stop-start affair. Davies was also guilty of being something of a "homer" as he denied the by far dominant Dragons a more comfortable winning margin, although Craig Warlow did also have an off night with the boot, only landing two of his seven attempts at goal.

Cardiff's fragility in the forwards was shown up yet again, by a far superior Dragons pack. Jason Forster continued his impressive recent form with a commanding display in the back row, Rhys Oakley also produced by far his best showing since a move from the Zurich Premiership, and Jamie Ringer was rolling back the years at blindside. 

Sione Tuipulotu had another storming game back at full back, the Tongan burst onto a Gareth Baber pass to open the scoring inside the opening five minutes, Baber had opened the Blues defence with the simplest of dummies. Despite being camped inside the Cardiff 22 the Dragon's failed to take advantage, although they did had what looked like two perfectly fine tries ruled out. A Nicky Robinson penalty reduced the deficit before Lee Abdul added added insult to injury, with an undeserved try in the right corner. Further more the home side had knocked on in the process.

With half time approaching it took another Tuipolotu break to split the Blues defence, and then Hal Luscombe came off the back of the resulting maul to re-take the lead 13-10, as Warlow pulled the conversion wide.

After the break there was only really one side in it, and there was no surprise when that man Tuipolutu barged over for his second try of the night.

Not even the introduction of Dan Baugh could inspire the Blues as they struggled to put anything constructive will the ball they did get together. With an injury list full of three quarters, the last thing Dai Young would have wanted to see was Lee Abdul being stretchered off with a broken ankle, Ryan Powell was soon to follow the Winger to the treatment room for unfortunately the same reason.

Another Robinson penalty with a quarter of an hour to go, would have claimed an unlikely bonus point, but a Jason Forster try saw the Dragon's claim a bonus of their own and snatch away the Blues.

With the possibility of wage cuts looming, it was highly ironic that the five points saw the Dragons move into the high of fourth place in the league against completely outplay in every department a side, which at present has  a very steady future indeed. On Friday's showing I would say it should be the over way round.

Now tenth in the table, it's a case of catch up for Cardiff who's realistic goal this season has to be to claim a place in the Heineken cup, and try and bridge the gap between themselves and the second lowest placed Welsh side the Ospreys. But with a pack desperately lacking in any power whatsoever and an inability to do the basics at the set piece, it will be a real up hill struggle judging by this "performance".

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MOTM - Tui Tuipolutu

Scores:
Blues: Try -Abdul, Pens- N Robinson 2, Con - N Robinson
Dragons: Tries - Tuipolotu 2, Luscombe, Forster, Pen - Warlow Con - Warlow

Teams:
Blues: van Vuuren; Abdul, Walne, J Robinson, Morgan; N Robinson, Powell, Fourie, G Williams, Evans, Brownrigg, A Moore (capt), Appleyard, Thomas, Sowden-Taylor. Replacements: Yapp, Phillips, McShane, Baugh, A Moore, McCarthy, R Jones.

Dragons: Tuipulotu; Brew, Luscombe, Winn, Breeze; Warlow, Baber; Black, S Jones, Anthony, Gough, Sidoli, Ringer, Forster (capt), Oakley.
Replacements: Thomas, Young, Charteris, Van Rensburg, Arasa, Jarvis, Shelbourne.