Josh Turnbull has saluted Cardiff’s fighting spirit and professionalism after they secured a bonus-point victory over Benetton Rugby.
The Blue and Blacks returned to BKT United Rugby Championship action against a backdrop of off-field disruption but put it aside to grind out a 30-13 Arms Park victory.
Turnbull was pleased to get back to winning ways following three league defeats and to avenge a heavy loss to Benetton at the end of last season.
The Cardiff captain said: “With everything that's going on it was important that we got that win, especially after the last one against Leinster.
“Treviso also absolutely hammered us when we went out there in the last game of last season so we had to put that right.
“We spoke about that real early in the week, just how frustrating it was to go over there last game of the season and get absolutely walloped. They're a good team especially when they have all their internationals and they outplayed us that day.
“Tonight with the conditions, it was about getting as many points as we could in that first half and then trying to play our game in that second-half, controlling that middle third and putting pressure on them, which we did. it was gutsy.
“We ended up getting a bonus point right at the end. Full credit to the boys, I thought it was a real one to 23 effort and we really dug in.
“They're a strong team with or without their internationals, and it was a gutsy performance from us. They made it difficult as they always do but the biggest thing we spoke about was just doing it for each other, doing it for Lloyd on a special occasion for him. After the past couple of weeks there has been a couple of off field things s but it's just sticking together and working hard for each other.”
The victory saw Cardiff climb to ninth in the table, and open up a five point lead in the Welsh Shield, with just seven points separating them from sixth place.
Turnbull is well aware that winning during international windows is of vital importance and he believes European qualification will go right down to the wire.
Cardiff face Ulster at home next (March 4) before away fixtures against Zebre Parma, Connacht and Ospreys.
He added: “If we want to achieve things these games are massively important for us. I've said to the boys already - during the international periods, they're the most important games. If you pick up results there and it can springboard you up the table quite a bit.
“It always comes down to these last few games of the season. We had a really good start this season, but during that Christmas period they were tough games, we got lucky in one of them and we lost the other two but they could go either way.
“After that Leinster game as well it's pretty tough but we're in the last 16 of Europe at home and now we're climbing the table in the league so that's all we can ask for.
“Ulster are up there in front of us, Connacht are around us, Ospreys are around us as well and we've got to play all of them and Zebre away.”
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