NEWPORT Gwent Dragons were downed 27-16 by Cardiff Blues in the capital. Here are five things we learned from the Guinness Pro12 clash...

1: Kicking woes

The Dragons were hindered throughout by poor kicking in their own territory, a tone that was set in the first minute by Angus O’Brien kicking out on the full to gift the field position that led to the first try.

Tavis Knoyle also frustratingly repeated that mistake to lose momentum when the visitors had levelled the scores while the Dragons’ line may not have been breached in the second half but they failed to relieve pressure well.

The forwards must have been frustrated to hold out the Blues but only move 10 or 15 metres away from their line. The Dragons must be better at finding their exit.

2: Second half shocker

The first half was marvellous entertainment, albeit the way that the Dragons finished it gave them a mountain to climb, but the second was poor in front of a packed house at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.

Blues coach Danny Wilson summed things up nicely: “We played some good rugby in quite an entertaining half, setting things up nicely for a second half that burned away. It was a pretty poor game of rugby second half compared to a very good game of rugby first half.”

3: Driving problems

The Dragons have defended reasonably well at the lineout this season but haven’t got their driving game going.

They were well contained in the closing stages by the Blues when gunning for a try to earn a bonus point and potentially give them a shot at the win, failing with a series of attempts.

The Dragons won on Boxing Day two years ago thanks to their driving lineout that earned one try for hooker Elliot Dee and a penalty try. This time they were driven towards touch, forcing Dee to peel off.

4: Amazing Ashton

After a dodgy defensive start, Ashton Hewitt had a cracker with another livewire performance with ball in hand.

The winger is one of those players that punters love watching and defenders hate facing, wriggling out of tackles and buzzing along the field.

Hewitt is hitting his straps after missing the start of the season with a shoulder injury and he has to be in Rob Howley’s thinking for the Six Nations but if the call-up doesn’t come in a pretty strong department then he will surely be included for Wales this summer.

A demand though: Hewitt shone against the Blues last December then failed to repeat the trick against the Ospreys on New Year’s Day. This time he has to back it up.

5: Selection quandary

The swift turnaround means there will be some tinkering on New Year’s Day but head coach Kingsley Jones has some pondering to do.

Does he give those that didn’t quite produce the goods on Boxing Day – there were too many okay performances and not enough stellar ones – another crack?

Does he stick to his guns and give those that he had probably earmarked to freshen things up against the Ospreys – the likes of Nick Crosswell, Elliot Dee, Sarel Pretorius – the start?

One man who should come in is Sam Beard, who made a real impact in midfield after coming off the bench.