Blues 43-29 Dragons: Blues win with second-half blitz

Matthew Morgan made a considerable impact for the Blues off the bench

Matthew Morgan grabbed two tries as Cardiff hit back from an 11-point half-time deficit to clinch a victory over Dragons.

Adam Warren, Elliot Dee and George Gasson's first-half tries lifted the Dragons into a 21-10 advantage at the interval, but Cardiff came roaring back with a 33-point blitz to pick up a bonus-point win as the visitors were run ragged.

Morgan scored two of the Blues' tries with Tom James, Alex Cuthbert and Jarrod Evans also on the score sheet. Evans converted five and added a penalty for a tally of 18 points.

The Dragons suffered two big blows before kick-off when wings, Ashton Hewitt and Jarrod Rosser, withdrew with injuries.

However, they overcame the setback to take an early lead. Hallam Amos counter-attacked to set up a movement which ended with Gavin Henson sending Warren over.

Dragons' challenging record on the road continues having lost their last 26 away games in the Championship

Taufa'ao Filise was handed a yellow card for a dangerous tackle in the build up to the score and the Dragons were not ahead for long as the Blues responded with their first try when Kristian Dacey crashed over following a sustained attack.

The frenetic opening continued with a third try when Dee brushed away a weak tackle from Blues' replacement prop, Keiron Assirrati, to score.

Filise returned from the sin-bin in time to see Evans kick a penalty when Dragons infringed at a scrum.

After 32 minutes, the Dragons scored a splendid try when they turned defence into attack.

Sarel Pretorius threw a poor pass in his own 22 to put the visitors under pressure, but they worked their way out of danger before Tyler Morgan showed exceptional pace to race 70 metres and give Gasson an easy run in.

Just before half-time Evans was short with a penalty attempt so his side still trailed 21-10 at the interval.

Blues have now won their last three fixtures against fellow Welsh regions

For the second half, Matthew Morgan replaced Rhun Williams at full-back and it was he who scored Cardiff's second try soon after the resumption.

However, Morgan fumbled the restart for Blues to concede a penalty at the resulting scrum to give Henson a simple three points.

From then on it was one-way traffic and Dragons' resistance finally cracked when a drive from Nick Williams put the visitors on the back foot for James to race outside Pretorius to score.

Moments later, the Blues looked set for another but a brilliant cover tackle from Morgan hauled down Josh Navidi after the flanker had raced 50 metres.

It mattered little for Cuthbert crashed over from close range before tries from Morgan and Evans emphasised the Blues' second-half superiority with Lloyd Fairbrother's last minute try earning the Dragons a bonus point.