Blues Make Semi’s
Blues Make Semi’s
By Andrew Collins
December 2 2006
The Cardiff Blues have reached their first ever semi final’s, following last nights 31-7 win over London Irish.
The Blues dominated from start to finish, and put on a tremendous forwards display as they romped through to the Anglo-Welsh Semi Final, which will take place at their second home, the Millennium Stadium, in April.
Dai Young went into the match knowing that LI needed not only to win, but to win with a bonus point, and come out with nothing if they were to fail in progressing, and for a short while in the first half, that looked a possibility.
Despite owning the first quarter of an hour, Irish got the first point of the night on 13 minutes after a quick tap penalty by Ritchie Rees. The Welsh scrum half ripped through the defence, who were not 10 metres, and then fed his winger Bishop, who rounded Chris Czekaj with alarming ease to score beneath the sticks. It was inevitably converted, and you could sense the worry around the stands.
However, Ben Blair kicked the Blues in the lead with 3 successful penalties from almost exactly the same spot.
And the comeback was complete when Martyn Williams, found at outside half, threw a dummy and slipped between two defenders from 5 yards to cross, after a long period of sustained pressure.
Marc Stcherbina was having a phenomenal game at centre, while every single one of the forward unit looked on top form. As well as utilising an expert rolling maul, the pack were winning all their own ball from the line-out, and stealing a ridicules amount of the visitors, James Goode and Deiniol Jones having barn storming matches.
But things were to get even better fro fans, as Czekaj score a perfects wingers try. More turnover ball was received by the backs who made the most of their man advantage. However when Welsh international, Chris Czekaj, received the ball the move had looked over, with London Irish looking to have reorganised. But the youngster showed strength and awareness to hand off his man to go around him on the outside, and then showed full array of his talents by kicking a lethal grubber kick to the try line. And he deserved the luck as the ball bounced favourably out the full backs reach, and straight into Chris’.
Blair missed the conversion from the touchline.
And so by half time, order was resumed. The home side ran in to a rapturous applause from fans.
Half Time
The second half was far more even, and it was in the 70th minute that the next score was completed. Ben Blair converted a penalty to put the result well and truly beyond doubt.
And just to press home the dominance of the
Half Time
theArmsPark.co.uk’s Man of the Match – Deiniol Jones
Took line-out ball all day long, was sensational. James Goode was also awesome, and Martyn Williams worth his weight in gold. But Deiniol just shaded it for the award. His work was mainly unseen, such as in the lineout, rolling maul, and was expert in turning the ball over.