Dragons win thrilling Welsh derby

Newport-Gwent 48 Cardiff 25

Newport-Gwent maintained their Celtic League title challenge after a thrilling victory in an action-packed Welsh derby.

Flanker Jason Forster and winger Nathan Brew got two tries apiece in the Dragons’ runaway victory over their closest rivals.

Cardiff are now almost certain to miss out on the Heineken Cup next season as the last-placed Welsh team in the league.

But the Blues led 10-3 after 25 minutes through a try by skipper Martyn Williams and a superb solo effort by Tom Shanklin, even though they were down to 14 men after Craig Quinnell was yellow-carded.

But then the Dragons launched a stunning comeback to score 31 points with only a penalty in reply to put the game out of the Blues’ reach.

Forster nabbed his first try followed by a quick two from Brew before Forster’s second secured an unexpected bonus point.

The Blues replied with a Jamie Robinson effort, but the Dragons took charge again with another two tries, the first by replacement Jamie Ringer and the second by skipper Andy Marinos.

Shanklin’s injury-time effort came far too late for the Blues.

Former Springbok star Percy Montgomery was on target with the boot landing two penalties and all six conversions for an 18-point haul which sets up a thrilling finish to the league season between Llanelli Scarlets, Ulster and the Dragons.