Ospreys 21 Cardiff Blues 21
Saturday 2 April 6.30pm
There was a late change to the Bleus team with Czekaj, who was due to play his 100th game for the Blues, pulling out with a minor knee injury, to be replaced by Dan Fish for the big Welsh derby.
The Blues kicked off proceedings, but an early penalty for Ospreys from an offence in the scrum, saw Biggar attempt from just inside his own half, which crept over the bar. Biggar doubled the lead with another attempt 10 minutes later.
It was a shaky start for the Blues, being driven back in the scrum and the first lineout not functioning properly. Parks was also just wide with his attempt at goal and the Blues nearly conceded a try when Parks’ kick was intercepted, allowing Tipric, Hook and Fussell to combine well running into the Blues twenty two.
Biggar added a third following another penalty from the scrum but the Blues again failed to get points with Halfpenny this time just wide with his attempt at goal.
The best attacking threat in the opening 30 came from Rush, who was having his best game for a while, charging through the midfield and gaining 40 yards before trying to offload to Halfpenny. The move eventually led to Parks dropping a goal to put them on the scoreboard.
The score lifted the Blues and again Rush showed a deft touch, passing the ball out the backdoor to Fish who sprinted for the corner and chipped ahead to win a line-out 5 metres out. From the set piece the Blues attacked the try-line before eventually winning a penalty for off-side that Parks converted.
There was a frantic last five minutes to the half with Ospreys attacking but being turned over before Laulala showed great skill to nearly break out of defence. However, it ended with Bradley Davies being yellow carded for ripping the ball from the ruck with his hands and Biggar slotting the penalty. There was still enough time for Parks to slot a further penalty and Biggar to drop a goal.
Half time Ospreys 15 Cardiff Blues 9
The second half started as the first ended with Biggar slotting a drop goal and Parks converting a penalty.
The Blues did look dangerous at times and Laulala was having a superb game both in attack and defence but the scrum was still causing them problems, going back at a rate of knots. A period of pressure following a neat kick by Parks saw Jerry Collins sent to the bin and Parks converting to cut the deficit to only 3 points.
The match tempo was higher in the second half. Biggar and Parks exchanged penalties and on the hour mark there was still only 3 points in it.
The Blues launched and attack with Pretorius winning clean line-out ball at the back of the line and Roberts carrying strongly through the middle with Filise, who was playing well, again carrying strongly. However, having driven into the twenty two the Blues were deemed to have knocked on when in a great attacking position but the Blues won the scrum against the head and Parks dropped a goal to level the scores with 10 minutes left.
The Ospreys had two failed drop goals attempts and were again driving the Blues back in the scrum. With two minutes left the Blues were 40 yards out and looking to attack but they conceded a penalty that forced them back into their own half before French referee Christophe Berdos blew to mean the Blues still remain 5 points off the play-off places but with a game in hand.
Cardiff Blues 15 Dan Fish 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Tom James 10 Dan Parks 9 Richie Rees
8 Xavier Rush 7 Martyn Williams 6 Andries Pretorius (70off) 5 Paul Tito (c) (50off) 4 Bradley Davies 3 Scott Andrews (50off) 2 Gareth Williams 1 Fau Filise
16 Rhys Williams 17 Sam Hobbs (50on) 18 Nathan Trevett 19 Michael Paterson (50on) 20 Mamma Molitika (70on) 21 Lloyd Williams 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Dafydd Hewitt
15 Richard Fussell 14 Tommy Bowe 13 Sonny Parker 12 James Hook 11 Nikki Walker 10 Dan Biggar 9 Rhys Webb
1 Paul James 2 Huw Bennett 3 Adam Jones 4 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt) 5 Ian Evans 6 Ryan Jones 7 Justin Tipuric 8 Jerry Collins
16 Richard Hibbard 17 Ryan Bevington 18 Cai Griffiths 19 Ian Gough 20 Jonathan Thomas 21 Mike Phillips 22 Andrew Bishop 23 Lee Byrne
Cardiff Blues
Tries
Pen Parks x 5
Con
D/G Parks x 2
Ospreys
Tries
Pen Biggar x 5
Con
D/G Biggar x 2
Referee: Christophe Berdos
Yellow Card: Bradley Davies, Jerry Collins
Attendance: 11,619