Connacht punished by unforgiving Robinson

Cardiff Blues 33 Connacht 17

Cardiff Blues 33 Connacht 17

Cardiff Blues have notched their first Celtic League points of the campaign against Connacht at the Arms Park thanks to the trusty boot of scrum half Nick Robinson.

Both sides scored three tries but the Blues had the key figure in Robinson who enjoyed a 100% kicking success and a personal haul of 18 points.

Connacht shocked the Blues with a ninth-minute try by flanker John O'Sullivan against the run of play but the homeside soon hit back with a glorious try by young centre Nick Macleod.

READ MORE

Robinson converted but Connacht right wing Conor McPhillips squeezed over for a hotly-disputed score in the corner to regain the lead for his side.

On the half-hour Donavan van Vuuren inspired a Blues counterattack that featured brilliant passing and running before Wales World Cup reject Jamie Robinson sprinted over for the second try.

Two more penalty goals by Robinson put his side into a comfortable 23-12 lead at the break and the game ended as a contest in the third quarter.

Robinson had already kicked his fourth penalty of the match when Connacht number eight Matt Lacey was sin-binned for persistently killing the ball.

The Blues took full advantage when within a minute more good work by Van Vuuren set up Dean Dewdney for a try that Nick Robinson converted.

The Blues had 20 minutes in which to score a fourth try and secure a bonus point but the finishing touches eluded them.

It was Connacht who scored the only other points when McPhillips crossed for another try with the Blues were further hampered when flanker Dan Baugh received his second yellow card in as many matches.