Alun Lawrence was delighted as Cardiff fought tooth and nail to kick-off the new season with a bonus-point win. 

The popular number eight was named BKT Player of the Match after Cardiff overcame 20 minutes down to 14-men to secure a five-try bonus-point win at the Arms Park.

Lawrence contributed with 16 carries and 12 tackles in a typically all-action performance and he was pleased his side got the job done.

He said: “It’s brilliant to be back at the Arms Park in front of our home crowd. As a team, we pride ourselves on working hard for each other. We fight for everything, and we enjoy doing it together. Its part and parcel of what we do here, we do it together and I’m just doing my part.”

Cardiff showed plenty of promise in ball in hand but had to navigate a tricky period when Ben Thomas was controversially shown red and further indiscipline began creeping in.

 Fortunately, it was a 20-minute red card and Jacob Beetham was able to enter the fray as Cardiff reasserted themselves and got the job done. 

Learnings to take

Lawrence added:  It’s how we want to play rugby, we want to play a brand of rugby that people are going to enjoy watching and we enjoy playing it. 

“We move the ball around, we back ourselves to take space when it’s given to us and hopefully everyone can see that’s what we’re striving to do. 

“Rules change all the time, we’re all learning and adapting as well so we’ll learn from that period, it was tough but (on the whole) we really enjoyed it.”

An unbelievable machine

Speaking of Lawrence’s Player of the Match performance, Corniel van Zyl said: “He’s an unbelievable machine.  He’s got an engine on him.

“He almost had like a slow start, but it’s just how he gets into it, he continues what he’s doing and he’s so consistent, which is a compliment to him because that’s what makes him tough not to select every week.”