Once again The Dragons began the game well with a dominant opening 20 minutes. After two early tries from David Brake (Pontypool) from a driving lineout and a text book finish from Gary Wilks (Fleur de Lys), The Dragons began to make silly errors and let ill-discipline ruin their good work. The Blues kicked three penalties before Dragons scrum half Calwyn Morgan (Pill Harriers) added a third try.
Just before half time, The Dragons were under pressure from the Blues when the referee awarded a 5m scrum to the visiting team. From the resultant scrum, the referee awarded a penalty try to the Blues after The Dragons illegally handled the ball whilst in the scrum. With the conversion, this put the Blues up 16-15 at half time.
In the second half, The Dragons came out fighting and continued to dominate in the pack. No. 8 David Brake was outstanding and gave The Dragons a good platform from which to attack.
Unfortunately for The Dragons, silly mistakes and poor decision making prevented them from capitalising on their obvious possession and territory advantage. It was not until mid way through the half that The Dragons demonstrated what a talented side they were. After some neat interplay between the back row and scrum half, flanker Andrew Packer (Newport Saracens) gave winger Gary Wilks half a yard of space and the man from Fleur de Lys did not disappoint, rounding his man to finish. Owen Biddescombe (Newport Saracens) added the conversion.
The Dragons then scored a penalty from Biddescombe before a sustained amount of pressure from the Blues. Then, to make the game safe, captain Lee Edwards (Pontypool) added a fifth and final try two minutes before time.
After the game, backs coach Steve Pritchard commented, ‘In patches we showed what a good team we can be. Our defence was awesome once again and we are still yet to concede a try in open play. I thought the Blues team battled to the end and really made us work hard for the victory.”
There is now a break in the Clubs Championship, with the Dragons facing the Scarlets to retain the title in late November.