Blues Claim Vital First Win

MOTM Phillips
By Andrew Collins
September 15 2005

In a thoughorly enjoyable match, the Cardiff Blues pciked up that all illusive first win, and best of all, against old rivals Llanelli Scarlets. 6,254 arrived at the Arms Park which made for a great atmosphere on what turned out to be a pretty good night.

Team
Macleod; Czekaj, R Williams (capt), Davies, Morgan; N Robinson, Phillips; Yapp, R Thomas, Evans, Jones, Sidoli, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Powell.

L Thomas for T Davies (44), Quinnell for D Jones (69), Lewis for Molitika (79).

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It was a far cry from the golden years, where Cardiff and Llanelli were Wales' 2 most dominet sides, yet it was the same, typical, dogged match that you get whenever the two sides meet.

Andy Powell and Mike Phillips both started against their former employers, while Ben Evens made his first start of the season and Deiniol Jones came in for  Craig Quinnell, who's younger brother Gavin was also on the bench but for Llanelli.

The game was a pressure match for both sets of players and importnatly managers. Dai Young had failed to win a match going into the game, while the Scarlets loss at home to Edinbourgh, and foreign policy had not gone down well with the Strady faithful. Dispite not being a top-of-the-table clash as had been with these two, a lot was still on the line, along with the old rivalry.

It was the Scarlets who opened the scoring, as full-back Barry Davies slotted over an easy penalty after 5 minutes, but any glory was short-lived, as after 10 minutes, the Blues grabbed a try from scrum half Mike Phillips. After a Scarlet attack broke down, Mike hacked a hopeful kick upfeild, only to find that no-one was home for the Strady squatters, and after a second kick and a 60 meter run, gathered a kind bounce to dive over the line and give a lead that was then never lost. Nick Robinson converted.

Robinson and Davies then excahnged a freekishly odd period in which both players hit the post TWICE with consecutive kick, though Barry's efforts were much longer and harder than the young outside halfs.

Robinson did manage to add a penalty before the half, but the Blues would've been disapointed given their huge possession advantage, and perhaps would've liked a bigger defecit.

The second half started badly, when the visitors scored within 3 minutes of the re-start. Hercus' long miss-pass took out 3 of the Blues defenders as injured Barry Davies' substitute Paul Mackey gathered and scored for a try early in his Scarlets career. Hercus missed the conversion, meaning the Blues held their slender lead. 10-8.

But 12 minutes into the second half, and some great attacking rugby got Cardiff a well deserved score. Following a long period of pressure on the Scarlets, Nicky Robinson put in a perfectly weighted cross-feild kcik to Craig Morgan, under pressure, he simply patted down instead of gathering, straight into the arms of the other former-turk, Andy Powell. Having lead by example all match, it seemed ironic that both ex-employees were controlling the game, Mike was looking strong, fast and dangerous, while Andys commitment to defence and attack spurred on the home crowd and the players. Robinson converted well from out wide.

The Blues seemed to be controlling the match, despite subsitute Bowen adding a penalty, something they seemed completely unable to do against Ulster. And it was just that kind of quick thinking that David Humphreys showed on last week, that Nicky Robinson used on Wednesday. A poor pass from Phillips on the attacking 22 meant the Welsh international had to jump to gather, with options all around him closing down, he kept a cool head and slotted an important drop-goal in the tightest of circumstances.

At 20-11, with 10 to go, the Blues just had to hold on, yet after throwing away countless leads in the last 3 years, no-one was taking the gap for granted.

But Cardiff answered any questions the Scarlets were asking in defence, keeping calm, discaplined and commited to every tackle. Despite wave after wave of attacks on the try line, Cardiff held out. It was only when the excelent Robin Sowden-Taylor was sin-binned in the 79th minute that the breakthrough came. Th ball spread right, but still counl not cross with Craig Morgan staying strong, but eventually, with 83 minutes gone, substitute scrum half Leigh Davies was tackled but offloaded supurbly to Bryne who dived over the line under pressure from Morgan. The try sealed a bonus point, even though the conversion was missed.

Final Score Cardiff Blues 20 Llanelli Scarlets 16

The scoreline flattered Gareth Jenkins men, with the Blues clearly the more dominent and well trained. Cardiff deserved the 4 points, while the Sarlets will make do with a point.

After the match, Andy Powell spoke said,

"We were under pressure and so it's just awesome to win a game. We should have won the last two, but we've got one now and we're away."

Cardiff are the free team on weekend, and so pick up 4 points without playing in what has to be the stupidest rule ever made. So with 10 days to rest until the trip to Glasgow, Dai looks in a more comfortable position, whether this is a turning point remains to be seen, but if they can take their confidence with them to Scotland, it should be an interesting last week before our Lions and Xavier Rush arrive home.