Shanklin hurt in Blues win

Cardiff Blues bounced back from their Heineken Cup heartbreak with a 26-12 victory over the Dragons, though the win came at a price.

The home side had Tom Shanklin stretchered off at the Arms Park, making him a major doubt for the British and Irish Lions' tour to South Africa.

The centre, who had scored his side's first try, hurt his right shoulder in the final stages of the Magners League clash and was immediately taken to hospital for an x-ray.

A report on the Lions' official website later confirmed that the player had suffered a dislocation, though it did quickly go back into place.

Shanklin's departure ruined the result for the Blues, who were playing for the first time since losing a penalty shoot-out to Leicester in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup.

Positive result

Both teams needed a positive result with the lowest-placed Welsh region in the table forced into a play-off in Italy to determine European qualification.

Full-back Ben Blair kicked two early penalties to put Cardiff in front, the second for a ruck offence which earned Dragons prop Adam Black a yellow card from referee Nigel Owens.

Jason Tovey responded for the Dragons with a drop goal that stemmed from a poor clearance by former Newport-Gwent player Ceri Sweeney.

However, it was the Blues who cashed in on another error shortly after, a careless pass by fly-half Shaun Connor allowing Shanklin to race in.

Blair landed the easy conversion from in front of the posts and although Tovey did pull three points back later on, the hosts were in firm control at the break.

Both sides traded penalties at the start of the second half, the Dragons' effort slotted over by replacement fly-half James Arlidge, before the Blues had winger Tom James sin-binned.

Costly error

Arlidge slotted over the resulting kick following the yellow card, only for another error to prove costly for the visitors.

Flanker Dan Lydiate, on his own 22, tried a looping pass which was grabbed by Blues centre Jamie Robinson to run in for an easy score. Blair converted to seal the result, although Shanklin's injury took the shine off it.

Lions coach Ian McGeechan will now be waiting for further news over the Wales international. He has already lost Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary to a broken ankle.

There is also the possibility of losing another Munster player, with flanker Alan Quinlan facing a disciplinary hearing having been cited for allegedly making contact with the eye or eye area of Leinster's Leo Cullen in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final defeat at Croke Park.