Liam Belcher has highlighted Cardiff’s fight and enjoyment after they clinched a place in the BKT United Rugby Championship play-offs. 

The Blue & Blacks endured a difficult start at a packed Arms Park, with Belcher shown yellow after four minutes and Stormers quickly grabbing the opening try. 

But Cardiff responded emphatically and scored four tries through Jacob Beetham, Tom Bowen and Ioan Lloyd. 

The bonus-point win defied the odds and booked Cardiff’s place in the quarter-final. And while typically frustrated with elements of the performance, Belcher was delighted with the result, pointing to his side’s trademark characteristics.

He said: “We are used to fighting back, we keep doing that to ourselves. Probably myself as well, getting the yellow card again. 

“But one thing you can’t fault in these boys is the fight. You’ve got Ev Lloyd coming on in the back row, Al Lawrence coming on in the second row, yIoan Lloyd who stepped up really well today considering Sheedy’s been playing 10 the majority of this season and he’s playing 15. 

“So that’s what the group’s about, next person up mentality and we spoke about having fight and enjoyment I think we’ve seen that in a bucket load today.”

Cardiff are likely to face the Stormers again, in Cape Town, in the quarter-finals but will have to wait for other results to know for sure.

Belcher added: “Well we’ll get the abacus out on the weekend trying to see where we’d land but like you said it was about trying to get to that top eight first and now seeing who and where we are playing. 

“We’ve got a social tomorrow, a few pints and enjoy it. I think it’s the first time the club has reached the play-offs in the URC so we’re soaking it all in and the atmosphere has been incredible as well. That’s one thing I’d like to say.”