Blues Fall to Leinster

Blues Fall to Leinster
By Andrew Collins
February 17 2008

The Cardiff Blues are effectively out of the race of the Magners’ League title following a disastrous second half at the Royal Dublin Showground. It leaves Dai Young’s men 8 points shy of the league leaders, now sitting in 4th place.

The Blues immaculate first half couldn't have been more stark in contrast to the second, as they squandered a 14 point lead. Maama Molitika opened the scoring, running over from 5 metres after a period of sustained pressure from the kick off, while Nick Macleod finished off a stunning team try.

The second stunning try was started by Jamie Roberts, brought up by Sowden-Taylor, held up by Jason Spice, before a lovely change of angle opened up a corridor of space for the stand-in fly half. Blair converted both tries to complete a fabulous opening 12 minutes.

For the remainder of the half, the visitors still looked the better side, putting up a stallion defensive effort on their own line for 5 minutes, before Shane Horgan eventually crossed in the corner. Contepomi added with a brilliant conversion, adding to his earlier penalty.

Blair had the final say of the half, slotting over a penalty at second attempt for a half time score line of 10-17.

And that was as good as it got for the Welsh region, who shouldn't have bothered turning up in the second half. Maama Molitika was sin binned on 60 minutes, with Contempomi adding penalties either side of the yellow card. That put the home side 17-16 up with 15 to play.

Blair missed a penalty while Nick Macleod's drop goal effort was way wide. But on 75 minutes, the match was effectively ended as full back Luke Fitzgerald grubber kicked to the try line and neatly rounded his opposite number. Fortunately for the Blues, Contepomi missed the conversion, leaving the visitors within 7, gaining a losing bonus point.

Leinster (10) 24
Tries: Berne, Fitzgerald
Con: Contepomi
Pens: Contepomi (5)

Blues (17) 17
Tries: Molitika, MacLeod
Cons: Blair (2)
Pens: Blair

Ben Blair, Jamie Roberts, Jamie Robinson, Gareth Thomas, Tom James, Nick Macleod, Jason Spice; John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Tauf'au Filise, Scott Morgan, Paul Tito, Maama Molitika, Robin Sowden Taylor, Xavier Rush (c)

Gary Powell, T Rhys Thomas, Ben White, Mark Lewis, Richie Rees, Rhys Jones, Tal Selley