Cardiff Blues 45 Harlequins 40
Sunday 5 February 1pm kick off
A dozen tries were scored in an entertaining encounter with the first try of the afternoon coming from Chris York. Rory Clegg had put a neat chip through that Bair gathered just outside the twenty two, however, the ball was turned over and blindside flanker York ran in unopposed.
Harlequins were playing all the rugby in the opening quarter, dominating possession, but Blair slotted a penalty for the Blues when they did venture into the Harlequins half. There then followed a period of attack from the Blues as they chipped away inside the Harlequins twenty two, however, the visitors defence stood firm.
It was Harlequins who got the next try as Seb Stegmann ran in from forty yards on the right, with Clegg again converting. The Blues hit back instantly.
Blair and Mustoe did well to carry the ball into the Harlequins twenty two and when the ball was recycled a neat slip pass saw Tom James come into the line at pace and sprint in to score under the posts. Blair converted.
The next Blues try was a great team effort. Mustoe carried the ball strongly before it was recycled and Tom James went on the loop before breaking the Harlequins line. He was ably supported by Lewis Jones who slipped a pass to Lewis Hamilton to sprint in, beating two defenders. Blair added the tricky conversion.
Tom James got the third showing his pace. He gathered a well timed pass, running a great angle, and sprinted in past Chisholm at Fullback. Again, Blair was accurate with the extras to bring it to 24-14 at the break.
Half time Cardiff Blues 24 Harlequins 14
The second half started with as the first half finished, with Tom James scoring his third and Blair converting to extend the Blues lead.
It was and entertaining encounter and Harlequins struck back instantly. Having won a scrum on the left hand side the ball was slipped out to Sam Smith on the wing to score. From the restart they scored again. Ross Chisholm gathered an inside pass in his own half and in acres of space he sprinted around Ben Blair to score in the corner. Clegg was again accurate.
The Blues got their 5th try from a driving lineout when Macauley Cook was driven over. Blair again added the extras to bring the score to 38-28.
The Blues extended their lead when Ben Blair made a great break from his own half and a good offload by Gavin Evans in the tackle found Mustoe. He gathered before passing to Tom James to touch down for his fourth of the afternoon. Blair kept his 100% record to secure the win, however, there was still enough time for a brace of tries.
Harlequins finished the strongest when their wingers combined. Sam Smith put a neat chip through and gathered before sprinting 40 yards. He drew Musto, before passing to Stegmann to cross. Urdapilleta converted.
Ross Chisolm scored a late consolation in injury time to bring the final score to 45-40.
Cardiff Blues 15 Ben Blair 14 Richard Mustoe 13 Gavin Evans (25off35on) 12 Gavin Henson (60off) 11 Tom James 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Lewis Jones (73off)
8 Luke Hamilton (39off) 7 Josh Navidi (35off) 6 Maama Molitika 5 Macauley Cook 4 Cory Hill (52off) 3 Scott Andrews (66off0 2 T Rhys Thomas (Capt) (73off) 1 John Yapp (66off)
16 Ryan Tyrell (39on) 17 Nathan Trevett (66on) 18 Sam Hobbs (66on) 19 Paul Tito (52on) 20 Xavier Rush (35on) 21 Sion Hopkins (73on) 22 Gareth Davies (73on) 23 Casey Laulala (25on35off60on)
Harlequins 15. Ross Chisholm 14. Seb Stegmann 13.George Lowe 12. Tom Casson 11. Sam Smith 10. Rory Clegg 9. Karl Dickson
1 Nic Mayhew 2 Rob Buchanan 3 Tim Fairbrother 4 Tomas Vallejos 5 Pete Browne 6 Chris York 7 Will Skinner (C) 8 Tom Guest
16 Darryl Marfo 17 Mark Lambert 18 Will Collier 19 Charlie Matthews 20 Joe Trayfoot 21 Richard Bolt 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta 23 Ollie Lindsay-Hague
Cardiff Blues
Tries Hamilton x 1 James x 4 Cook x 1
Pen Blair x 1
Con Blair x 6
D/G
Harlequins
Tries York x 1 Stegman x 2 Smith x 1 Chisholm x 2
Pen
Con Clegg x 4 Urdapilleta x 1
D/G
Yellow Card:
Attendance: 2,093