Cardiff Rugby, riding high at the top of Pool A in the EPCR Challenge Cup after successive wins, transferred their winning form to the domestic scene on Monday, when they squeezed home 29-24 at Pool B side Dragons RFC in a thrilling United Rugby Championship derby at Rodney Parade.

Dragons, who lie sixth in Pool B, haven’t defeated their Welsh rivals since December 2014 and although they gave Cardiff a run for their money, the visitors were well worth their victory after outscoring the home side four tries to two.

Tomos Williams led the way for Cardiff with a double, with Josh Adams and Corey Domachowski notching the visitors’ other two tries. In addition, Jarrod Evans kicked a penalty and three conversions.

For Dragons, Rio Dyer and Harrison Keddie were their try-scorers, while JJ Hanrahan chalked up 14 points via four penalties and a conversion.

Meanwhile, Scarlets, who top Pool B after back-to-back victories, saw their winning run end with a 34-14 drubbing at Heineken Champions Cup side Ospreys, after Tomas Lezana was red-carded in the fourth minute of the West Wales derby.

Sione Kalamafoni and Johnny McNicholl scored the visitors’ tries, with Rhys Patchell converting both.