Summary

  • Cardiff go top of URC while Dragons' wait for first league win over neighbours since 2014 goes on

  • Dragons have also gone 21 games without a league win

  • Dragons made 10 changes from the side thrashed by Glasgow last weekend but come up short again

  • Taulupe Faletau plays first match of 2025-26 with the watching Steve Tandy set to name Wales squad next Tuesday

  • Alex Mann crosses for game's first try in opening minute but Brodie Coghlan quickly responds for Dragons

  • Faletau scores Cardiff's second try before Dan Thomas crosses in entertaining opening quarter to give visitors 17-7 half-time lead

  • Danny Southworth scores bonus-point try for Cardiff in scrappy second half before Ben Carter crosses for Dragons and Angus O'Brien's late penalty gives hosts a losing bonus point

  1. Postpublished at 65 mins

    Dragons 7-24 Cardiff

    Props Sebastian and Martinez have a little go at each other after a scrum collapses.

    Scotland v Argentina in Newport!

    And they both get a ticking off from an Italian referee.

  2. Postpublished at 63 mins

    Dragons 7-24 Cardiff

    Ken Owens
    Former Wales hooker on S4C

    You have to give credit Alun Lawrence for that try.

    He kept the ball in, won it back and gave Cardiff the chance to attack the Dragons defence.

  3. try

    Converted try: Dragons 7-24 Cardiffpublished at 61 mins

    Southworth try, Ben Thomas con

    Danny Southworth scoresImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Finally this second half lights up and that's the bonus for the visitors.

    I'm not sure how Lawrence manages to keep the ball in play after Ben Thomas chips wide but his good work eventually results in a try.

    Bowen looks to be flying over after beating two players but is stopped by O'Brien.

    Then prop Danny Southworth picks up and goes over from less than a metre.

    Ben Thomas takes over the kicking duties for Cardiff and nails his first effort.

  4. Your callpublished at 59 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    I asked earlier whether you thought Dragons could mount a comeback.

    Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

    Pretty clear answer from you lot.

    I wonder if that's going to be the final score? Not at this rate!

    Picture shows a previous post in live pageImage source, BBC Sport
  5. Postpublished at 56 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Ken Owens
    Former Wales hooker on S4C

    The defence is winning the second half for both teams so far.

    Both teams are strong defensively and there isn't much in the attacking game. It means the tempo has gone from this second half so far.

  6. Replacementspublished at 55 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Dragons prop Martinez and Cardiff scrum-half Mulder are on.

  7. Replacementpublished at 52 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    And that's your lot from Faletau on his first appearance of the season.

    To be fair, he marked it with a try. Will he also celebrate it with a win?

    Cardiff looking comfortable as Alun Lawrence takes his place.

  8. Postpublished at 52 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Tom Bowen carriesImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    A huge kick from the left boot of Tom Bowen sends Cardiff some 50 metres up field.

    Is there anything this kid can't do?

  9. Postpublished at 50 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Ken Owens
    Former Wales hooker on S4C

    Beddall stealing the ball for a second time. That's exactly what you want from the young man.

    He's strong on the ball, quick in and sees his chance. Great work.

  10. Postpublished at 48 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Harry Beddall in actionImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Top work Harry Bedall.

    The Dragons flanker clamps on to the ball after Woodman's tackle and wins the penalty.

    Classic openside play from the Wales Under-20s captain.

  11. Replacementspublished at 47 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    With that pause, both teams start looking at their bench.

    Cardiff props Sebastian and Southworth are on.

    Dragons introduce flanker Woodman and lock Screech.

  12. Postpublished at 47 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Ken Owens
    Former Wales hooker on S4C

    Aneurin Owen of Dragons and Kieron Assiratti of CardiffImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    This second half has been a mess so far, a lot of mistakes, players losing the ball and poor kicking.

  13. Postpublished at 46 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    We've had a spell of about four minutes with the ball in play but to little consequence.

    Wayward kicking.

  14. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Tom Bowen gives a glimpse of why people are getting excited about him.

    The teenager gathered a long kick deep inside his own half but steps past the first tackler and glides past a second before he is snagged.

    You get the feeling he could produce something at any moment.

  15. 'Timing disrespectful'published at 20:48 BST 17 October

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Jamie Roberts
    Former Wales international on S4C

    The timing [of what Lyn Jones said] was disrespectful.

    Everyone, players, ex-players, coaches, supporters more than anyone have their opinion on what’s going to happen to rugby in Wales during the next month and next few years, and he has his opinion.

    Tonight’s about celebrating Welsh rugby. We’ve got a good crowd and it (the derby) is something very special so it’s not the day for discussing that kind of thing.

  16. Your callpublished at 20:47 BST 17 October

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    OK... who thinks Dragons can pull off a comeback?

    It's three tries to one but only 10 points in it.

    Thumbs up for a Dragons recovery, thumbs down for a Cardiff win.

  17. Kick-offpublished at 20:47 BST 17 October

    Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Second half is under way

  18. Tandy watches on before first Wales selectionpublished at 20:45 BST 17 October

    HT: Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Wales head coach Steve Tandy is here in the Rodney Parade crowd as he runs the rule over potential selections for his first squad announcement next week.

    Could outsiders such as Dragons flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes or Cardiff wing Tom Bowen be among those called up?

  19. 'Lyn Jones' comments disappointing'published at 20:43 BST 17 October

    HT: Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Andrew Coombs
    Former Wales lock on S4C

    It’s disappointing isn’t it. Somebody with Lyn's experience knows the importance of derbies. He knows how important it is for regional players and coaches to focus just on the game.

    There’s enough going on off the pitch in Welsh rugby at the moment, Lyn didn’t have to say that before this game.

    We need some excitement in Wales at the moment. The crowd is out in force, they’re loud and I like what I see.

    I'd love to see Dragons win and keep Lyn Jones quiet.

  20. Postpublished at 20:41 BST 17 October

    HT: Dragons 7-17 Cardiff

    Jamie Roberts
    Former Wales international on S4C

    When Cardiff have reached the 22 they've looked really tidy and clinical. However we've seen the Dragons lose the ball a few times in that area.