Blues do 2nd double

MOTM Mike Phillips
By Andrew Collins
March 27 2006

The Blues completed a fantastic double over Scottish province Glasgow on Friday, their 2nd double in as many weeks. Having taken 5 points from the highlands earlier in the season, Cardiff completed a 10 point haul against the Glaswegians in an emphatic victory.

In trecherous conditions, the Blues killed off any chance of an upset with a 5-try demolition of Glasgow at the Arms park. Despite an appauling surface and sodden downpour, both sides played attractive running rugby, with the Blues getting perhaps the bigger slice of luck.

It took 20 minutes for either side to break the deadlock, but once the gates were open, there was a flood of point in the Blues favour.

And of course it would be last weeks star against France, Mike Phillips, who carried on his rich vein of form, scoring the opening points of teh match from whats becoming a tgrademark break for the former Scarlet. A well taken line-out from Mamaa Molitika secured ball quickly for the scrum half, his dummy pass opened up a clearing straight to the line, from which no-one would've caught him.

Robinson converted, and within minutes of doing so, was on the try list himself. Dai's men where quick to capitalise on a Glasgow mistake, something fans are used to being on the other side of. A knock back by the Scots was pounced on by Jamie Robinson, his hack through was almost collected, but once again spilled under pressure from Robinson, Craig Morgan supported well, and knew exactly wheat he was doing, putting the kick to his left, for the on-rushing Nick Robinson, he needed one more weighted grubber kick before diving on it to score a great footballing try.

Though getting the try, Robinson was unsuccessful in his attempt at goal. Down the other end however, dan park regestered his teams first points, with a well taken penalty that brought the scores to 12-3.

Then in injury time of the first half, Chris Czekaj effectively secured the points with a try of his own. Rhys Williams, returning from rugby 7's in Melbourne, seized a great opertunity on the right touchline, his direct run at two Glasgow defenders made th initial break, both went in for the tackle, but the lightening full back emerged the other side unharmed, he then passed to Czekaj, who scored his 4th try in 2 games.

Czekaj is beggining to look like the complete package, his finishing has been whats lacked in recent seasons, the need for a player who can complete a move and touch down is exactly what Cardiff have missed, but hopefully now have. Robinson missed the conversion out wide.

Half Time

Cardiff Blues 17 Glasgow 3

The first half had been all about the backs, but the second was forward dominated.

Within 10 minutes of the second half, Cardiff grabbed their 4th try and all 5 points. Deiniol Jones, a man who's been on much better form in the past few games, won clean line-out ball and started the rolling maul. The Blues were too strong and pilled over from close range, martyn Williams the man carrying at the back took the points. Robinson converted this one to put the home side out of sight.

And it was a similar scenario in the right hand corner that gave substitute Andy Powell a try. The blonde locked flanker came off the side of the rolling maul, but faught his way past a number of tackles on the line, to eventually score the Blues 5th.

After the match, a pleased Dai Young said,

"We needed to kill them off and I thought the boys went out there and really put them to the sword. There were a lot of good performances out there, but I thought it was a real good team performance."

Blues
R. Williams (capt); Czekaj, J. Robinson, Stcherbina, Morgan; N. Robinson, M. Phillips; Yapp, Goodfield, Jenkins, D. Jones, Goode, Molitika, M. Williams, Rush.

Lomu (Czekaj 62), M. Jones (Yapp 69), Johnson (Goodfield 74), Quinnell (Goode 9), A. Powell (M. Williams 62).