BLUES BREAK THEIR DUCK
BLUES 20 SCARLETS 16
The Blues had lost their opening two games but secured a much-needed victory thanks to two former Scarlets signed during the summer. Mike Phillips and Andy Powell scored the crucial tries in either half and left the Scarlets with just one win from three. Lee Byrne offered the visitors some consolation with a try in injury time to steal a bonus point.
But the night belonged to the two former Stradey Park stars. A hugely competitive first half was lit up by Phillips when the scrum-half, facing his former club for the first time, scored the opening try on 12 minutes. Phillips pounced on a lose ball in midfield, hacked forward twice and beat Scarlets wing Aisea Havili for the touchdown. Robinson converted and added a penalty only to se a further two shots at goal rebound off the posts.
Barry Davies suffered similar misfortune with the boot in the first half as two of his long range efforts also hit the woodwork to leave the Blues 10-3 to the good at half-time. Davies failed to emerge for the second half due to injury so was replaced by Paul Mackey who took less than three minutes to make an impact as he crashed over in the corner following Byrne’s surging break down the wing.
That brought the Scarlets to within two points only for Robinson to create Cardiff’s second with a pin-point cross field kick to Morgan who palmed the ball into the path of on-rushing Powell for their second try on 52 minutes. Robinson converted and added a drop goal nine minutes from time to safeguard the victory despite Byrne’s last-gasp effort.
Blues:
Tries – M Phillips, A Powell
Cons – N Robinson
Pen – N Robinson
Drop G – N Robinson
Scarlets:
Tries – P Mackey, L Bryne
Pens – M Hercus, G Bowen
Referee: N Owen (Pontyberem)
Attendance: 6,254
