Wasps 40 - Blues 19
Captain Rhys William
By Andrew Collins
October 8 2005
The Blues were brought back to earth last night, as the London Wasps gave us a reality check in just how good we really are. Going to Causeway is tricky for any team, and we wont be the last team to face that kind of humilliation, but only a spirited 20 minutes brought us back any dignity at all.
Blues: R. Williams (capt) 7; Czekaj 7, J. Robinson 6, Shanklin 6, Morgan 6, N. Robinson 7, R. Powell 6; Yapp 7, Goodfield 7, M. Jones 6, D. Jones 6, Sidoli 7, A. Powell 7, M. Williams 6, Rush 9.
Subs
Evans for M. Jones 6, Quinnell for D. Jones 7, Molitika for Powell 7, Sowden-Taylor for M. Williams 8, Phillips for Powell 8, Thomas Blood for Shanklin 7.
The Blues made a series of errors, and proved their own worst enemies at times, however there can be no doughting Wasps credentials following an awesome performance and a fully deserved victory.
The first points of the match came from the boot of Alex King, a penalty right infront of the posts simply convereted, to take a lead that they would never lose.
And the first try followed shortly after. On 14 minutes, hooker Ben Gotting raced over in the corner after Craig Morgan was sucked in, the pass was given with plenty of space, and Morgan could only make sure the conversion was difficult, but it didnt make a dufference as King convereted well from the right.
Nicky Robinson missed a long-range penalty, but his opposite number slotted over a simple one to make the scores 13-0.
The Blues defended well despite being under the cosh for 10 minutes straight. Some great play from Wasps was held up by the Blues and they seemed to be unable to cross the away sides line. However the numbers soon caught up with Cardiff, a long miss-pass from Stuarty Abbot was picked up by Sackey, who also scored in the right hand corner. King continued his 100% kicking record for the match, bringing the half-time scores to 20-0.
The second half started in the same way, Nicky Robinson had his second kick of the match charged down, this time deflecting of his own man before falling into the lap of Josh lewsey, King added a conversion.
Mark Van Gisbergen came on in the second half, and slotted two penalties, much to the Blues credit having twice had tap efforts defended.
But at last the Blues eemed to be able to find their feet. Nicky Robinson began the attack just out of the Blues 22, he gave a long pass to 19 year-old Chris Czekaj. With 80 metres to go, the winger set off on a brilliant one man attack, running to the 10 metre line, and putting a perfect long kick-and chase over Gisbergers head, it was a sraight race for the line, with Wasps' Josh Lewsey, Czekaj outpaced the England flyer to pick up his first Blues try, however despite having time to touch down between the posts, he dived on the ball in the corner, with Robinson unable to convert.
Blues man of the match Xavier Rush then scored to mark his first start in a Blues shirt, the New Zealander used sheer force to barge through 2 tackles and keep going over the line, to give the Blues some hope of a unlikely comeback, Robinson converted.
With Dai Young ringing the changes at 33-12, second high scorer Mamma Molitika came on for Andy Powell, and folloing some fantastic build up by Robin Sowden-Taylor and Rhys Williams, the Blues 
found themselves in another potent attacking position. The big Samoan rolled off the back of a maul and found some space to tumble over for his 3rd of the season, now on par with winger Craig Morgan for the top try scorer. Robinson again converted to take the Blues within 14 points!
With just a few minutes to go, the Blues were looking for a bonus point 4th try, a point for staying within 7, or even a win!
Having gone looking for the illusive 5 points, Cartdiff knew theat they'd have to attack from anywhere, and this proved to be their final downfall.
Nicky Robinson's miss pass missed the man and after fumbling about for the ball, a black and amber shirt came out with it to simply fall over the try line and give the Wasps an 11 point gap following conversion.
The Wasps undoubtedly deserved 4 points and we cannot begrudge them the 4th try bonus point either, but having come back so well, and shown such great spirit, it's hard not to feel we deserved something more from the game.
At 33-19, the Blues looked like the class act, and their attacking finece was fantastic. However, the fact they could hardly lay their hands on the ball in the first half perhaps shows the real difference in the teams.
Either way, the Blues can come out of the game with alot more respect than they would've at half time, and a loss to the English and recent English Champions is no real embarrassment in itself. However, 2 years from now, the Cardiff Blues may well be comming out of the fixture with more than just performance.