THURSDAY 22 DECEMBER 7.35PM KICK OFF CELTIC LEAGUE
The Cardiff Blues visited the new Liberty Stadium in Swansea for the first time and it wasnt long before they made themselves at home.
Mike Phillips took a quick penalty on the half way line and drove up to the Ospreys twenty two with excellent support from Andy Powell. The ball was spread quickly to the left where Deiniol Jones ran over for the first try converted by Nicky Robinson. Connor kicked a penalty for the home side but the Blues soon scored their second try then Nicky Robinson broke and fed brother Jamie who threw a long pass out to winger Chris Czekaj who raced over to score once again converted by Nicky. The Ospreys once again kicked a penalty and the Cardiff blues came close to scoring when they broke down the left the ball was then passed wide to the right with excellent ands by Rhys Thomas sore Chris Czekaj coming close to scoring in the corner. The Blues dominance was soon tested on the half hour mark when Mike Phillips when a harsh decision saw scrum half Mike Phillips giver a yellow card for a high tackle. Despite being down to 14 men and with Martyn Williams and Robin Sowden-Taylor acting as scrum half the Blues nearly scored again when Nicky Robinson kicked a huge up and under to put pressure on the Ospreys, excellent work by Jamie Robinson and Rhys Williams saw the ball go out once again to Czekaj who crossed the line but excellent work by Shane Williams saw the Osprey winger get beneath the ball and prevent the try. The Blues had ridden the storm of being down to 14 men and didnt concede a point with the score at half time Ospreys 6 Cardiff Blues 14
Half Time Ospreys 6 Cardiff Blues 14
Three penalties in 10 minutes moved the score to Ospreys 9 Cardiff Blues 20 but the Blues were unlucky not to score a try when Nicky Robinson kicked a great cross field kick. Winger Craig Morgan was tackled by Richard Mustoe off the ball, but the referee only awarded a penalty that the Blues failed to capitalise on. Morgan however was soon on the scoreboard as man of the match Mike Phillips took a quick penalty and ran at the Ospreys defence. An excellent run and pass by Nicky Robinson saw Morgan run over in the corner to score and get his revenge. With the score at Ospreys 9 Cardiff Blues 25 the rest of the match saw number of substitutions on both sides and Nicky Robinson kicking a penalty to seal a great victory and an early Christmas present to the visiting fans.