Blues Euro Chances Lie in Balance

By Paul French
April 10 2005

A 22-8 win at the Arms Park, appears to have given Cardiff Blues a more than fighting chance of making a Euro play off with rivals Connacht slipping up.

The Blues really could not have had a better start, through Robin Sowden-Taylor's well taken try inside fifty seconds, but that start was in truth never realised, as stagnant unimaginative play a trademark of their season hindered any chance of a five point win to move them level with Connacht.

Tom Shanklin was one of the few players' to offer the cutting edge that is clearly needed next season should Dai Young be able to turn the region around. Shanklin however put his Lions' chances in jeopardy by limping off with a knee injury.

A missed Paul Warwick conversion four minutes into injury will have given the Blues a massive boost however, with the Aussie blowing a potential losing bonus point.

Which means should the Western Ireland side fail to win and score at least four tries against The Dragons next Saturday, and the Blues expectantly claim a bonus point win over Borders, a play off with Calvisano most probably beckons somewhere in Italy.

And then the other equation, an unlikely Llanelli Scarlets' win at Ravenhill on Friday could potentially also see the Blues' through.

The Scarlets nearly had sixty points put on them by Glasgow, including some fairly comical tries, in a breathtaking encounter. In particular Gareth Bowen had a straight forward touch finder intercepted by the Scot's scrum half Sam Pinder who proceeded to sprint the length of the pitch.

Questions will now be asked of Gareth Jenkins' who many believe could well be coming to the end of his long stay at Stradey Park.

Percy Montgomery is another rumoured to be on his way, with year long rugby undoubtedly taking it's toll on the bok'. Montgomery offered little inspiration from outside centre at Murrayfield last night, as The Dragons' continued their dire form with a 30-3 loss.

Likely incoming coach Paul Turner faces an uphill struggle at Rodney Parade, on the basis of the flat nature of a five try hammering at the hands of the Gunners', who at times played were playing the sort of rugby more appropriate at sevens' level.

Attendance wise, there was a marked improvement in gates' with Blues (5,600) and Scarlets (6,480) which is still far from ecstatic but an improvement nonetheless, for televised League matches.

Friday
Cardiff Blues 22-8 Ulster

Saturday
Llanelli Scarlets 30-57 Glasgow
Edinburgh Rugby 33-3 Dragons

Sunday
Connacht 13-22 Ospreys
The Borders 23-38 Munster

Have Your Say on the Message board