A five try win against Glasgow Warriors sends Cardiff Blues up to fifth in the Celtic League table.
Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors
Friday 24 March, 7.10pm Cardiff Arms Park
With the rain starting to fall over the Arms Park and hour before kick off, the conditions werent ideal for open rugby. Glasgow had the upper hand in the first ten minutes of the game with intelligent kicks keeping the Blues pinned down in their own twenty two.
However, it was the Blues who got the first score twenty minutes in to the game when they kicked in to the Glasgow twenty two and won a line out. The ball was thrown to the back of the line and scrum half Mike Phillips continued his great form against France last Saturday, by throwing a dummy and bursting through and diving over the line near the posts to get the first try, converted by Nicky Robinson.
Cardiff Blues soon got the next try when Graydon Staniforth the Glasgow full back dropped the ball which was kicked on by Marc Stcherbina, Jamie Robinson and then excellent football skills by Craig Morgan kicking the ball on to Nicky Robinson who dribbled the ball over the line and touch down to get the second try.
Glasgow Warriors were awarded a penalty for a high tackle which was converted by outside half Dan Parks. The Cardiff pack and especially Craig Quinnell and Maama Molitika were having an excellent match and despite the awful conditions both teams try to run the ball. The next score came from an excellent break by Rhys Williams who passed on to Czekaj who dived over in the corner to score.
The Blues came close to scoring again just before half time with a cross field kick by Nicky Robinson was caught by Martyn Williams and a chip through by Gethin Jenkins nearly resulted in a try.
Half time
Cardiff Blues 17
Glasgow Warriors 3
Cardiff Blues didnt have to wait long for their fourth try when they won a line out in the Glasgow twenty two. The pack drove forward as a unit and Martyn Williams emerged from the maul to cross to claim the bonus point. Nicky Robinson converted the try to bring the score to Cardiff Blues 24 Glasgow Warriors 3.
The Blues were completely dominating the game and a good penalty kick to the corner by Nicky Robinson saw the home side win the line out and drive forward. Andy Powell then picked up the ball from the base of the ruck and cross for the fifth try.
Despite more dominance in the last ten minutes Cardiff Blues couldnt add to the score but they should be satisfied with the performance and result that saw them climb to fifth in the league.
Blues: R Williams (capt); C Czekaj, J Robinson, M Stcherbina, C Morgan; N Robinson, M Phillips; J Yapp, D Goodfield, G Jenkins, D Jones, J Goode, M Molitika, X Rush, M Williams.
Replacements: M Jones, R Johnson, C Quinnell, A Powell, R Powell, N Macleod, J Lomu.