Edinburgh 16 Cardiff Blues 3
Czekaj lasted 80 minutes
By Andrew Collins
April 3 2009
A weakened Cardiff Blues side fall short in Murrayfield, as a dire match sees Edinburgh claim a 16-3 victory over the EDF Cup finalists. The Scots scored the only try of the game at the start of the second half, as Ritchie Rees' yellow card costs Dai Young's side in the Magner's League.
Cardiff missed an opportunity to overtake Welsh rivals, Dragons and Scarlets, as they failed to take anything away from the Scottish capitol.
The fixture provided a real head ache for Dai Young, who knows his side must qualify for Europe through their league finish, but with the regions biggest two weeks ahead of them, it was always going to be an overshadowed event.
The Blues face one of the best club sides in world rugby just a week after Friday night's Celtic clash, taking on Toulouse in the Heineken Cup Quarter Final, and players minds would struggle to focus on Edinburgh.
Indeed that seemed the case, as Cardiff struggled to get a footing in a game played in thick fog at an empty Murrayfield.
Edinburgh enjoyed most of the first possession, but couldn't breach the visitors defence. Chris Patterson's penalty on six minutes was all they had to show at half time, despite their full back also hitting the post from a 40 metre effort, and Phil Godman's missed drop goal attempt.
The Blues were lucky not to concede a try early on as the Scottish side fumbled over the try line, and instead went in just 3-0 down at the break.
Simon Webster broke the deadlock early in the second half, pouncing on a well weighted grubber kick from Godman, with Patterson converting.
Cardiff then lost scrum half Ritchie Rees to the sin bin following a purposeful knock on, preventing Simon Webster from getting to the Blues line. That seemed to signal the end of Cardiff's chances, and so Young hauled off Leigh Halfpenny, Nicky Robinson and Paul Tito before 60 minutes, ensuring their involvement in Saturday's massive fixture.
Ban Blair, who stayed on all match, found the visitors first and ultimately only points of the match from a long range penalty, but two drop goals from Patterson and replacement fly half Blair prevented Cardiff from ever getting back into the game, or taking a bonus point back to Wales.
Full Time
Edinburgh 16
Cardiff Blues 3
Blair, Halfpenny, J. Robinson, J. Roberts, Czekaj, N. Robinson, Rees, Yapp, T. Thomas, G. Powell, Davies, Tito, White, Sowden-Taylor, Warburton.
Mustoe for Halfpenny (52),Sweeney for N. Robinson (60), Allinson for Rees (70), Filise for G. Powell (61), D. Jones for Tito (58), Morgan for Warburton (61).
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Cymru am Byth...
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
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On this & generally, Someone may have suggested this before-but, when the Welsh Squad Members are away( Particularly during the 6 Nations period) a Welsh Regions Cup(?) competition should be organised to give the rest of the Regional Squad Members game time-or have Magners League fixtures. It has to be said that the 22 for the Edinburgh game were all good players-all they lacked is the ability to play together as a team-something that they would have if games were organised during the 6 Nations period! To lose 16-3 is not conducive to self-confidence or to player development.
As well, I hope that Dafydd Hewitt stays with the Blues!
I agree that maybe there should be some regional type games to play whilst 6 nations is on however.
you make a good point r/e edinburgh's match fitness! But, i do believe that with a heini 1/4 and edf final coming up, a lot of players were rested & others like warburton and checkers came in and the result was a lack of fluidity in backs & forwards mainly because of a lack of matches. edinburgh didn't have this problem-but i believe that heini & edf are both important!
Maybe, i didn't clarify my point-so p'raps if a competion was organised in the 6 nations period particularly, or maybe regular magner's competion, then players not in the 6 nations squad would come in and gain match fitness-because we did send a talented 22 to edinburgh!
i hope that this amplifies my point & ta for giving me the opportunity to so amplify-ta for your comments blue rose