Magners League Table

Team
Pld
Pts
MunsterMunster522
OspreysOspreys519
ScarletsScarlets513
LeinsterLeinster512
Cardiff BluesBlues511
Glasgow WarriorsWarriors511
Newport Gwent DragonsDragons510
Connacht RugbyConnacht58
EdinburghEdinburgh58
Ulster RugbyUlster57
Blues climb to third with win over Dragons
13 - 18
Rodney Parade   Att: 7,113
Referee: Tim Hayes
Wednesday 19th April 2006, 19:35
Cardiff Blues leap-frogged Munster into third pace in the Celtic League table with a narrow 18-13 win over Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.
Mike Philips
Mike Philips touches down for Cardiff Blues' first try
The disciplined visitor's fifth victory in a row saw them equal the Region's best ever run in Celtic League history (originally set in February-March 2004) and keep the pressure on league leaders Leinster and fellow high-flyers Ulster.

The defeat for The Dragons, who had previously won their last five matches in all competitions at Rodney Parade, dents their push for an automatic qualification spot for next season's Heineken Cup.

In driving rain The Blues got off to a superb start by grabbing a sensational opening try that saw them sweep downfield.

Flanker Martyn Williams looked for the attacking option when The Blues scrum was under pressure in their own 22, winger Chris Czekaj then sped down the touchline before feeding scrum-half Mike Phillips who dotted down to claim the score before Nicky Robinson added the conversion.

Fly-half Robinson cemented their lead with a long range penalty soon after but they offered a lifeline to The Dragons on the quarter hour when a loose lineout throw from Rhys Thomas found Michael Owen who drove over for a try, that was converted by Craig Warlow.

A drop goal from Robinson edged The Blues further ahead but a Warlow penalty five minutes later cancelled out that effort.

The Dragons' task was made more difficult when they were reduced to 14 men before the break with Owen being sent to the sin-bin, but to their credit they held the scores for the duration of his absence.

Soon after the re-start it was The Blues' turn to have a player sent to the sin-bin with Robert Sidoli penalised for taking out Luke Charteris.

However they took the blow in their stride and created the next try with some patient build-up work creating the overlap for Craig Morgan who offloaded to Czekaj over for the score.

A further Warlow penalty narrowed the deficit and offered some hope to The Dragons but they were unable to overhaul their Welsh rivals.

Newport Gwent Dragons V Cardiff Blues
 PDCTPosPlayerPlayerPosTCDP 





FB
Aled Thomas
15
Rhys Williams
FB










W
Gareth Wyatt
14
Chris Czekaj
W
1









C
Jon Bryant
13
Marc Stcherbina
C




Replacement off





C
Ceri Sweeney
12
Tristan Davies
C










W
Nathan Brew
11
Craig Morgan
W





Replacement off
2

1

FH
Craig Warlow
10
Nick Robinson
FH

1
1
1

Replacement off




SH
Gareth Baber
9
Mike Phillips
SH
1









P
Adam Black
1
John Yapp
P










H
Andy Brown
2
T.Rhys Thomas
H










P
Rhys M. Thomas
3
Gethin Jenkins
P





Replacement off




L
Ian Gough
4
Deiniol Jones
L










L
Luke Charteris
5
Robert Sidoli
L




Yellow card
Replacement off




FL
Jamie Ringer
6
Kort Schubert
FL










FL
Jason Forster
7
Martyn Williams
FL





Yellow card



1
8
Michael Owen
8
Xavier Rush
8





Replacements





-
David Maddocks
16
Scott Roberts
-










-
Rhys Oakley
17
Duane Goodfield
-










-
Gethin Robinson
18
Mark Lewis
-





Replacement on




r
Peter Sidoli
19
Robin Sowden-Taylor
-





Replacement on




r
Andrew Hall
20
Ryan Powell
-





Replacement on




r
Ben Breeze
21
Nick Macleod
-





Replacement on




r
James Ireland
22
Lee Thomas
r




Replacement on
Penalty Tries
0
0
First half timeline
8Cardiff Blues
Try - M Phillips
8Cardiff Blues
Conversion - N Robinson
12Cardiff Blues
Penalty kick - N Robinson
16Newport Gwent Dragons
Try - M Owen
16Newport Gwent Dragons
Conversion - C Warlow
18Cardiff Blues
Drop kick - N Robinson
23Newport Gwent Dragons
Penalty kick - C Warlow
35Newport Gwent Dragons
Yellow card - M Owen
Second half timeline
46Cardiff Blues
Yellow card - R Sidoli
57Cardiff Blues
Try - C Czekaj
68Newport Gwent Dragons
Substitution - A Hall on for J Ringer
68Newport Gwent Dragons
Substitution - J Ireland on for G Baber
69Newport Gwent Dragons
Penalty kick - C Warlow
70Newport Gwent Dragons
Substitution - P Sidoli on for I Gough
72Newport Gwent Dragons
Substitution - B Breeze on for C Warlow
77Cardiff Blues
Substitution - L Thomas on for M Stcherbina
All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Graham Stuart
delivered by Sotic powered by RedDot