WITH HALF an hour gone there weren't many home fans at Rodney Parade pondering a journey east on the M4 or a rather more picturesque drive through the borders.

Yet come 3pm on Saturday the Newport Gwent Dragons supporters were toasting one of the most famous afternoons in an admittedly brief history.

Lyn Jones' side have emulated the class of 2007 by qualifying for the European Rugby Challenge Cup semi-finals but this nervy last-eight win against Cardiff Blues trumps the romp versus Brive eight years ago.

The Dragons had to show composure when a hard-to-take defeat to the men from the capital was in the offing, trailing 14-3 approaching half-time after a spluttering display.

And they had to show steel in the closing stages when it looked like the most galling of comebacks was going to occur, the visitors having rallied from 25-14 down to move within a score at 25-21.

Their defensive stand in the 80th minute may not go down in folklore like Wales' monumental effort against the Irish in the Six Nations but it will live long in the memory of Dragons fans, who roared their approval when English referee JP Doyle signalled that centre Jack Dixon had earned a penalty to end the 13-phase attack inside their 22.

Such are the small margins.

Everyone involved with the Dragons is now feeling pride, relief and hope for the future after a wonderful occasion instead of anguish at an opportunity lost and dread about another season as Wales' worst region.

Now they must twist the knife and combine a European jaunt with finishing above the Blues, who clearly need to pick a new director of rugby and back them for three year at least, in the Guinness Pro12.

And why shouldn't we dream of the Dragons lifting the trophy aloft at Twickenham Stoop on Friday, May 1?

Granted, Exeter's combination of power and flair looks pretty hard to stop but the region have upset the odds in Europe this season on their travels to Stade Francais and Newcastle plus at Leinster in the league.

Those performances show that the current crop are more than capable of going at least one stage further than Kevin Morgan & Co, who bravely bowed out at Clermont Auvergne in 2007.

But, as the Dragons players freely admitted this after beating the Blues, they will need to be better than they were in the last eight.

You couldn't fault their endeavour but a sluggish start, high error count and poor kicking game meant that they were staring down the barrel at 14-3.

The defence was passive to allow Lloyd Williams to snipe over followed by fly-half Gareth Anscombe, who converted both before his game completely went to pot.

The Blues will be livid at the manner in which the Dragons grabbed their lifeline on 35 minutes.

A horror right-footed clearance kick by the left-footed full-back Dan Fish and a spilt ball by Anscombe gifted the hosts prime attacking position on the 22.

Then the fly-half, who is clearly a gifted player despite his horror show, went for the wrong man and tackled Jack Dixon rather than Hallam Amos who raced under the sticks.

The Dragons then bossed matters to go 25-14 in front, despite a lack of bulk up front after having to play with flanker Nick Crosswell as a makeshift lock.

Replacement Nic Cudd stretched over after a driving lineout got within yards of the line and then a penalty try was awarded on 51 minutes after Jonathan Evans was prevented from getting to his charge down of Williams' clearance, the visiting scrum-half seeing yellow for the offence.

It was at 22-14 that the Dragons' inexperience and lack of composure was evident – they were camped in enemy territory and playing against 14 men but kill the game off.

Dorian Jones eventually made it an 11-point lead with 12 minutes left after taking over from the tee following a pair of poor misses by Tom Prydie.

However, the Blues were still alive and thankfully the clock was eaten up by the series of scrums on the Dragons' line in the build-up to the converted try by the impressive Josh Navidi; there could have been no complaints had JP Doyle marched under the posts a few minutes earlier.

But the Dragons clung on and can now start thinking of their semi-final with Jones faced by some selection headaches, both welcome and unwelcome.

The performances of James Benjamin and Crosswell showed why they had been retained in the back row alongside James Thomas, who has been one of the stars of the campaign.

But it was still the wrong choice to start with Taulupe Faletau on the bench, even if he was called for early because of the injury to Andrew Coombs. If Faletau's fit, he starts.

Then Jones has to ponder how he can accommodate the running skills Tyler Morgan – instead of the dependable Pat Leach in midfield or at the expense of a kicking option on the wing?

And then there is the headache in the second row with a partner needed for the excellent Cory Hill in the absence of the suspended Rynard Landman and injured Andrew Coombs – James Thomas, Matthew Screech or Ian Gough?

How nice to have such problems for a European semi on Saturday week.

Newport Gwent Dragons: J Tovey, T Prydie, P Leach (T Morgan 62), J Dixon, H Amos, D Jones, J Evans, P Price (D Way 73), R Thomas (captain, H Gustafson 74), B Harris, A Coombs (T Faletau 11), C Hill, J Thomas (N Cudd 41), J Benjamin, N Crosswell.

Scorers: tries – H Amos, N Cudd, penalty; conversions – T Prydie (2); penalties – T Prydie, D Jones

Cardiff Blues: D Fish, A Cuthbert, G Evans, T Knoyle, R Smith, G Anscombe, L Williams, G Jenkins (S Hobbs 40), M Rees (captain, K Dacey 52), S Andrews (A Jones 57), J Hoeata (M Cook 52), L Reed, J Turnbull (E Jenkins 71), S Warburton, J Navidi.

Scorers: tries – L Williams, G Anscombe, J Navidi; conversions – G Anscombe (3)

Yellow card: L Williams

Referee: JP Doyle (England)

Attendance: 8,119