Dragons (3) 6
Pens: A Thomas, Sweeney

Cardiff Blues kept up the pressure on Leinster at the top of the Magners League as they laboured to a win over gutsy visitors Newport Gwent Dragons.

In a low-quality game it took a defensive lapse to allow Blues flanker Ben White through for the decisive - and only - try at the Arms Park.

Ceri Sweeney's late penalty did earn the Dragons a bonus point in defeat.

But the game was soured as Blues lock Paul Tito and Dragons back-row Joe Bearman were sent off for fighting.

The Blues dominated the early part of the game but were unable to find a scoring opportunity as the visitors harried, hurried and scrapped for every ball.

The Dragons back-row of Jamie Ringer, Richard Parks and Bearman were the sharpest thorns arrayed against the Blues' attacking attempts.

But the pressure finally told as the quarter-hour mark approached, a penalty allowing fly-half Nick Macleod - back in the saddle after a lengthy injury - to begin the scoring.

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Aled Thomas replied with three points of his own soon after, as the Dragons threatened the home side's 22 for the first time.

Despite the scoreboard suggesting parity, the Blues continued to dominate.

The Dragons found themselves with two men in the sin-bin, as Gethin Robinson and Adam Black were yellow-carded within 30 seconds of each other as the defence became increasingly desperate.

With two props sin-binned and just one in reserve on the Dragons bench it meant uncontested scrums for 10 minutes, denying the Blues the chance to shunt their under-strength visitors up front.

Despite that it seemed only a matter of time before the Blues breached the 13 men opposing them.

Yet poor decision-making, sloppy handling and continued fierce defence kept the Dragons line intact.

Robin Sowden-Taylor burst through to seemingly claim a long-overdue try, only for the flanker to be called back for crossing and the game reached half-time locked at 3-3.

The second half began as poorly as the first half had finished, as stodgy and unappetising as yesterday's left-over Christmas pudding.

Aled Thomas missed a difficult long-range kick that would have given the Dragons a surprise lead.

But Macleod added his second penalty to give the Blues a slim advantage after 55 minutes.

The decisive blow to the Dragon's lingering hopes came eight minutes later when a defensive lapse undid all their hard work.

White was allowed to romp through the middle of a line-out in the Dragons' 22 and the Blues back-row was awarded the try after a replay from the television match official.

Macleod hooked the relatively easy conversion, but an 11-3 lead seemed likely to be enough to secure victory given the Dragons' lack of territory or possession.

Rhys Jones, the son of former Wales captain Kingsley, replaced Macleod to begin in earnest his season-long loan from Sale Sharks.

Both sides suffered a late blow when Blues lock Tito and Dragons back-row Bearman were red-carded for a prolonged fight as they took Boxing Day too literally.

With Heineken Cup matches to come in January a lengthy ban for Tito could seriously damage the Blues' hunt for a quarter-final place, although the Dragons are effectively out of the European running.

A late penalty from Sweeney, on at fly-half for the Dragons, earned the visitors a losing bonus point their brave performance deserved.

But neither Blues director of rugby Dai Young nor opposite number Paul Turner will be fully satisfied with their sides' displays.

Blues: Jamie Roberts; Tal Selley, Jamie Robinson, Tom Shanklin, Gareth Thomas; Nick Macleod, Richie Rees; John Yapp, T Rhys Thomas, Gary Powell, Paul Tito, Scott Morgan, Ben White, Robin Sowden-Taylor (capt), Andy Powell.
Replacements: Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams for R. Thomas (80), Maama Molitika for Morgan (69), Mark Lewis for A. Powell (72), Darren Allinson for Rees (61), Rhys Jones for Macleod (74), Dafydd Hewitt for J. Roberts (79).

Dragons: Kevin Morgan (capt); Richard Fussell, Rhodri Gomer-Davies, Ashley Smith, Richard Mustoe; Aled Thomas, Wayne Evans; Adam Black, Ben Daly, Gethin Robinson, Adam Jones, Peter Sidoli, Jamie Ringer, Richard Parks, Joe Bearman.
Replacements: Steve Jones for Daly (65), Rhys Thomas for Robinson (40), Michael Owen for Sidoli (58), Colin Charvis for Ringer (51), Paul Emerick for Gomer-Davies (40), Ceri Sweeney for A. Thomas (65), Alex Walker for Parks (80).

Referee: Huw Watkins (WRU).

Att: 12,532