DEFEAT IN CARDIFF: Cardiff Blues 35 - 5 Harlequins

It would, perhaps, be better to draw a veil over the sorry events that comprised the final LV= Cup match of their season that Harlequins contrived to lose 35 – 5 to Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park. It was a match played in adverse weather conditions and on the unfamiliar surface of an artificial pitch, though those factors alone were not the cause of the chapter of unforced errors that leaked four tries in twenty minutes either side of half-time.

Despite the weather, Harlequins started with the clear intent to play with pace and ball in hand. They were playing in the Cardiff half of the pitch and earning a series of penalties when a concerted attack threatened an early score. A fine kick from a penalty gave Quins a five metre lineout. The catch and drive produced another penalty, another catch and drive, another penalty and a third catch and drive adjudged to have been held up over the line.   From the subsequent scrum Trayfoot appeared to have scored, but was held to have knocked on.

Finally, after almost thirty minutes, Blues were able to break out and gain a foothold in Quins’ twenty-two where a knock on provided a scrum. When the ball squirted out, the Blues scrum-half broke round the short side with a flanker in support and scored the first try. The conversion added the extras. Blues now were encouraged by the turn in fortunes and a penalty allowed them good field position and another penalty gave them a lineout five metres from the Quins’ try-line. Quins managed to turn over possession but, in attempting to run the ball out of the danger area, Botica knocked on into the hands of Blues’ centre, Evans, who had little more to do than fall over the line. Again the conversion succeeded and Quins were 14 points adrift after thirty-four minutes.

A penalty provided an opportunity for points but Botica’s kick curled away outside the posts. Once again Quins sought to attack and, finally, in the ultimate minute of the half, a long pass found Lindsay-Hague at pace along the right touchline to score in the corner. Botica again failed with his kick. Cardiff led 14 – 5 at the interval.

The second half had barely started when Blues scored again. They turned over possession from the restart and a flowing backs move produced an irresistible overlap and a fine try duly converted. Worse was to come. Five minutes later an interception saw the Blues winger galloping for the posts and, despite being caught well short of the line, able to rely on support runners to collect the ball and score. Now 28 – 5 adrift Quins tried to attack. The harder they tried the greater the error count and not even a yellow card for a Blues forward allowed them to penetrate the excellent Cardiff defence.

With only a couple of minutes remaining Cardiff contrived to drive over from a lineout for a fifth try. The conversion succeeded and the final whistle could not come too soon.