Cardiff steal victory from Scarlets

At a packed Cardiff Arms Park, it was the Blues who sealed a fine comeback against their Welsh rivals – a third league win in a row and a second derby success on the spin for Danny Wilson's side.

Earlier, Dan Evans touched down against his former club as Newport Gwent Dragons' search for a first Pro12 away win of the season extended into 2016, following a 7-12 defeat to Ospreys. The in-form Ospreys led 12-0 at the break thanks to efforts from Evans and Hanno Dirksen.

The hosts could have been a further eight points ahead but Sam Davies was wayward with his kicking and the Dragons set up a nervy finish when Ed Jackson powered over with 15 minutes remaining. Despite being forced to defend deep, the Ospreys held on to record their five consecutive Pro12 victory.

Elsewhere, Josh van der Flier's second half try proved decisive as in-form Leinster leapfrogged Connacht to move second on the table with a 13-0 victory. Leo Cullen's side have now won six in a row, while their Irish rivals slip to third after three defeats on the spin.

All Friday's scores and scorers!

Ospreys 12-7 Newport Dragons

Ospreys started strongly with Justin Tipuric making an early break down the wing. The first penalty came their way on four minutes when the Dragons were penalised but Davies dragged it wide. He got another chance to go for the posts just seven minutes later but again failed to find his range with his kick.

The Dragons started to edge their way into the contest and drove towards the try line just short of 20 minutes but the Ospreys defence held firm, turning the ball over before Jeff Hassler broke up field. The breakthrough eventually came on 23 minutes with Dan Lydiate the main instigator with a break 30 metres out from the Dragons try line.

The ball was eventually recycled with Davies slipping in Evans, who shrugged off a few tackles to go over in the corner. Davies off target with the conversion. The visitors looked to reply but it was Ospreys who added their second try on 34 minutes, after a period of pressure on their opponents' line.

Alun Wyn Jones appeared to have been held up on the line but Tom Habberfield recycled the ball to the onrushing Dirksen who leapt over the line to score, with Davies' conversion making it 12-0 at the break.

Ospreys began the second half with Dmitri Arhip coming on for his 50th appearance to replace Aaron Jarvis, who was undergoing a head injury assessment following a clash of heads with Lydiate. Lydiate also vacated the pitch for an assessment with James King coming on in his place, although the changes did not seem to disrupt the hosts' momentum with Davies making another break through the centre of the Dragons' defence.

Evans picked up the baton to drive towards the line but despite Ospreys having plenty of men out wide on the left, they were unable to make up the final inches and the ball was eventually knocked on. With the rain streaming down, the match was in danger of fizzling out somewhat but a sudden burst of energy from the visitors suddenly set up a lively finish.

With a succession of penalties coming their way, Jason Tovey opted to kick for touch rather than the posts just past the hour and suddenly the Dragons were right on their opponents' try line. The Dragons successfully drove at the line, with Jackson the man adjudged by the TMO to have grounded the ball.

Tovey was successful with the conversion to narrow the gap to five points with 15 minutes to play. The momentum was now firmly with the visitors, who were suddenly occupying the Ospreys 22 a lot more. But they were unable to find the end product and the Ospreys eventually cleared their lines as time ticked down.

Scorers:

For Ospreys:

Tries: Evans, Dirksen

Con: Davies

For Newport Dragons:

Try: Jackson

Con: Tovey

Teams:

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Ben John, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Nicky Smith.

Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 James King, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Jonathan Spratt.

Newport Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Nick Scott, 13 Adam Hughes, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Ashton Hewitt, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Ed Jackson. 7 Ollie Griffiths, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas (captain), 1 Boris Stankovich.

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Phil Price, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Nic Cudd, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Ross Wardle.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Cardiff Blues 29-27 Scarlets

Patchell slotted an early penalty against his future employers to give the hosts a 3-0 lead but no sooner had the Blues gained a foothold, they threw it all away. First, Kristian Dacey terribly overthrew his jumper at a defensive lineout and Owens gladly accepted the late Christmas present, scooping up to barge over from close range.

Aled Thomas added the conversion but the Blues' generosity did not end there – moments later Tom James' telegraphed pass was picked off by DTH van der Merwe who cantered clear for a second score and a 14-3 Scarlets lead, with less than a quarter of an hour played.

The Blues summoned an immediate response, centre Rey Lee-Lo sliced his way through and fed his centre partner Cory Allen and the Wales international scored with ease on his first start back from injury. Patchell added the extras to make it 14-10 but a dramatic first quarter then gave way to a cagier encounter. Aled Thomas slotted two penalties to stretch the Scarlets lead back out by the half-hour mark.

The Blues' missed tackles were costing them dear, Gareth Owen next to break through for the visitors but the home side scrambled well and finished the half on top. Young Scarlets lock Lewis Rawlins was sent to the sin bin for dragging down a driving maul and the visitors were happy to get in at the break 20-10 to the good.

After the break the Blues were keen to make the most of their numerical advantage, with Rawlins still in the bin, and Fish profited in the end – the fullback collecting James' inside pass to go over. Patchell's conversion was wide however and after 50 minutes the Scarlets were still five points to the good at 20-15.

The home side were now on the front foot and when Steffan Evans and Emyr Phillips were sent to the sin bin within a minute of each other, the Blues' chances looked good. They made the extra men count, as Dacey went over at the back of a driving lineout for the Blues' third try and this time Patchell added the extras to put them 22-20 ahead.

Back in the lead for the first time since the third minute and with two men more on the field, victory seemed a certainty for the hosts. But this dramatic game took another twist when Gareth Davies went over for Scarlets in the 65th minute, the visitors superbly killing the clock with men in the bin before a driving maul allowed the scrumhalf to dart over.

Aled Thomas' conversion bisected the posts and at 27-22 with little time remaining, the Blues comeback efforts appeared to have been in vain. However, in the closing stages it was that man Cuthbert who was on hand to fend off Regan King and dot down, leaving Patchell a simple conversion for a dramatic bonus-point win for Danny Wilson's side.

Scorers:

For Cardiff Blues:

Tries: Allen, Fish, Dacey, Cuthbert

Cons: Patchell 3

Pen: Patchell

For Scarlets:

Tries: Owens, Van Der Merwe, Davies

Cons: Thomas 3

Pens: Thomas 2

Yellow cards: Lewis Rawlins (Scarlets – 38), Steffan Evans (Scarlets – 55), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets – 56)

Teams:

Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Tom James, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 James Down, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).

Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Lou Reed, 20 Macauley Cook, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Garyn Smith.

Scarlets: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Morgan Allen, 7 Jack Condy, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Lewis Rawlins, 4 Tom Price, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Rob Evans.

Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Phil John, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Maselino Paulino, 20 Emyr Phillips, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Regan King.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Leinster 13-0 Connacht

The hosts were immediately on the front foot and kicked to the corner on two occasions to try and force their way over with the driving maul. But Connacht, who lost Nathan White to a head injury assessment early,  held firm before eventually conceding a penalty from right in front that Sexton duly slotted over.

The visitors were struggling to get out of their own half and as the game wore on, both Garry Ringrose and the impressive Eoin Reddan made fine breaks. But both amounted to nothing in the end and despite being on the back foot at scrum time, Connacht came into the clash as half-time approached and Niyi Adeolokun nearly went over for the game's first try.

Dave Kearney and brother Rob both made a hash of fielding a low kick to the corner and Adeolokun looked to profit before Dave Kearney made amends to bundle him into the corner and it remained 3-0 to the home side at the break.

Ringrose made an early in the second half break but a knock on killed the momentum. Sean O'Brien was then introduced for the home side for his 100th Leinster appearance and moments later came the decisive moment.

Dave Kearney made the initial break and after a succession of phases on the try line, it was van der Flier who burrowed his way over. Sexton added the extras to make it 10-0 and leave Connacht with an uphill battle to gain a losing bonus point.

Bundee Aki's break from the restart nearly brought Connacht back into it but despite having the wind in their favour, they failed to profit and a late Ian Madigan penalty put the icing on a crucial win for Leinster.

Scorers:

For Leinster:

Try: van der Flier

Con: Sexton

Pens: Sexton, Madigan

For Connacht: None

Teams:

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Ben Te'o, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Rhys Ruddock (captain), 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jack McGrath.

Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Zane Kirchner.

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoghan Masterson. 7 Jake Heenan, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Andrew Browne, 4 Aly Muldowney, 3 Nathan White, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Finlay Bealham.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Ian Porter, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Rory Parata.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

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