With just two matches remaining the Blues move top the table for the first time this season on 58 points, two points ahead of Leinster who they play in their final match of the season and four points ahead of nearest Welsh rivals the Ospreys who sit in third with 54 points and a game in hand.
Mike Phillips and Company proved too much to handle for an injury-hit Dragons side who slumped to their fifth straight league defeat without their star players. Wales scrum half Phillips stormed over from distance with a typical barnstorming run on 17 minutes before delivering the scoring pass to Rush for a 17-3 half-time lead.
The Dragons hit back early in the second half through flanker Joe Bearman but Tom Shanklin broke clear minutes later and Phillips smashed through to secure the Blues’ 15th consecutive league win at the Arms Park, equalling the Magners League record. Gareth Maule grabbed a late consolation score for the Dragons.
The Blues face a tricky away against the Scarlets at the weekend followed by a potential title decider at the Arms Park with Leinster on 11th May (correct at time of publication). As for the Dragons, any hope of catching the Scarlets and avoiding finishing fourth out of the Welsh regions evaporated with the defeat by the Blues. With the Scarlets on 48 points and the Dragons on 35 points with two matches left to play, a Scarlets collapse and two bonus point victories for the Dragons would still leave them three points adrift in the final table.
