Magners League Table

Team
Pld
Pts
MunsterMunster726
Glasgow WarriorsWarriors720
OspreysOspreys619
LeinsterLeinster717
Ulster RugbyUlster716
EdinburghEdinburgh716
ScarletsScarlets614
Cardiff BluesBlues611
Newport Gwent DragonsDragons610
Connacht RugbyConnacht78
Costly Defeat For The Blues
13 - 25
Arms Park   Att: 4,000
Referee: Gregg Davies
Friday 7th November 2003, 19:05
The Cardiff Blues lost their unbeaten home record and two key players - but the Gwent Dragons' surge up the Celtic League table continues.
Blues halfback Ryan Powell and try-scoring winger Lee Abdul both left the field with suspected broken ankles as Mike Ruddock's Dragons took advantage of having only two players away at the World Cup to record their first away victory.

The Dragons kicked off the scoring with a third-minute try to fullback Sione Tuipulotu after an audacious dummy from scrum-half Gareth Baber, and fly-half Craig Warlow made up for missing the conversion by slotting a 13th-minute penalty goal.

Opposite number Nicky Robinson replied with an excellent 45-metre goal before referee Gregg Davies ignored a knock-on in the Cardiff midfield to give Abdul a free run to the try-line.

Dragons centre Hal Luscombe joined a forward drive to score on the stroke of halftime to give the visitors a 13-10 lead at the break.

Tuipulotu scored his second try early in the second half as both Powell and Abdul were carried off, but a 67th-minute penalty goal from Robinson gave the home fans hope.

Dragons flanker Jason Forster ended that with a pushover try from a close-range lineout - his fifth five-pointer of the season and a bonus point for the visitors.

Cardiff Blues V Newport Gwent Dragons
 PDCTPosPlayerPlayerPosTCDP 





FB
Donovan van Vuuren
15
Sione Tuipulotu
FB
2




Replacement off



1
W
Lee Abdul
14
Nathan Brew
W










C
Nick Walne
13
Hal Luscombe
C
1









C
Jamie Robinson
12
Steve Winn
C




Replacement off





W
Craig Morgan
11
Ben Breeze
W






2

1

FH
Nick Robinson
10
Craig Warlow
FH

1

1
Replacement off
Replacement off




SH
Ryan Powell
9
Gareth Baber
SH




Replacement off
Replacement off




P
Ken Fourie
1
Adam Black
P










H
Gareth Williams
2
Steve Jones
H




Replacement off





P
Ben Evans
3
Chris Anthony
P




Yellow card





L
Jim Brownrigg
4
Ian Gough
L




Replacement off
Replacement off




L
Andy Moore
5
Peter Sidoli
L










FL
Rob Appleyard
6
Jamie Ringer
FL





Replacement off




FL
Robin Sowden-Taylor
7
Jason Forster
FL
1









8
Nathan Thomas
8
Rhys Oakley
8




Replacement off
Replacements
Replacement onYellow card




r
John Yapp
16
Bryan Shelbourne
r




Replacement on





-
Leyton Phillips
17
Lee Jarvis
r




Replacement on
Replacement on




r
Dan McShane
18
Gerald Arasa
r




Replacement on
Replacement on




r
Dan Baugh
19
Rhys M. Thomas
r




Replacement on
Replacement on




r
Andrew Moore
20
Paul Young
r




Replacement on





-
Gareth McCarthy
21
Luke Charteris
r




Replacement on
Replacement on




r
Richard Jones
22
Shawn van Rensburg
r




Replacement on
Penalty Tries
0
0
All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Graham Stuart
delivered by Sotic powered by RedDot