Cardiff Blues 22 Connacht 15:HIGH HOPES of Connacht repeating the famous victory in Cardiff Arms Park 10 years ago were dashed last night when Cardiff claimed victory on a return to RaboDirect Pro 12 action.
On that occasion in 2001 it was Connacht coach Eric Elwood who was the hero, kicking the two winning penalties but last night it was Cardiff’s Ben Blair who was the hero, kicking 17 of the home side’s 22 points.
Connacht’s front five laid the early platform with a dominant scrum, winning a second minute penalty which outhalf Niall O’Connor struck well from the 10-metre line to open the scoring, but it was not long before Blair replied with a simple kick in front of the posts after Connacht were penalised at the breakdown, adding a second from a similar position two minutes later.
Connacht continued to attack, with George Naoupu and John Muldoon making the hard yards count, and from a lineout and maul, Connacht made territorial advantage count, with Niall O’Connor opting for a long looping pass to Gavin Duffy, whose quick flick enabled left wing Tiernan O’Halloran to race in from 15 metre for the only try of the half. O’Connor added the extras with a superb touchline kick to put Connacht into the driving seat at 10-6.
Blair added three more penalties before the break to push the Blues in front. He extended that in the 57th minute and thereafter the home team dictated, pinning Connacht inside their own half.
The Blues reaped the reward from a counterattack, and although Martyn Williams knocked-on when punching a hole through the cover, Cardiff battled the way to the line before Sam Hobbs dived over for the crucial score. Blair added the conversion.
O’Halloran got Connacht back to bonus-point territory. Duffy instigated with a neat chip kick out of defence which O’Halloran grabbed, shook off a tackler, and ran nearly the length of the pitch before finding replacement scrumhalf Dave Moore with an inside pass to finish off. Jarvis missed the conversion, but it gave Connacht a valuable point.
CARDIFF BLUES: Blair, Mustoe, James, Laulala, Czekaj, Sweeney, Rees, Yapp, T. Thomas, Hobbs, Paterson, Tito, Molitika, M. Williams, Rush. Replacements: G Davies for Laulala (35), Trevett for Yapp (75), Tyrell for T Thomas (48), Harford for Hobbs (68), Cook for Tito (75), Hill for Molitika (57). Not used: L Jones, T Williams.
CONNACHT: Duffy, Vainikolo, Tonetti, McSharry, O’Halloran, N O’Connor, O’Donohoe, Wilkinson, Flavin, Loughney, Swift, McCarthy, Muldoon, Ofisa, Naoupu. Replacements: Fa’afili for McSharry (44), Jarvis for N O’Connor (68), Moore for O’Donohoe (68), Buckley for Wilkinson (74), Reynecke for Flavin (53), Gannon for Ofisa (24), Kearney for Naoupu (74). Not used: Maguire.
Refere: Andrew McMenemy (RFU).
