Scarlets 38 Cardiff Blues 23
Friday 6 May, 7.05pm kick off
It was all to play for at Parc y Scarlets and from the start a sustained period of pressure from the Scarlets nearly saw Iestyn Thomas score in the corner, after he looped around George North on the right, before being forced into touch as he looked to ground the ball. However, they won a penalty soon after and Jones converted. Parks soon got one back to equal the score.
A superb kick by Parks saw the Scarlets driven back to their own try-line, however, the Blues overthrew the lineout and the Scarlets broke all the way into the Blues half. Both teams were looking to spread the ball with the conditions ideal for open rugby.
Jones slotted a further penalty and the Blues were dealt a further blow when Paterson was sent to the bin for a late hit on the Scarlets fly half after he’d kicked the ball. The Scarlets capitalized on the man advantage with a driving lineout that saw Iestyn Thomas driven over for the try. Jones converted.
The Blues soon got their first try following some neat work in the backs with Jamie Robert showing his quality, slipping a pass back inside to Chris Czekaj, who sprinted in to score with Parks converting. Parks soon got another penalty to level the scores.
However, it wasn’t to last long after another period of pressure on the Blues and Knoyle proving a threat this time. Eventually the ball came back to midfield where number 8 Ben Morgan charged through to score under the post with Jones again converting.
The Blues responded instantly. After working their way into the Scarlets half Richie Rees passed from the base of a ruck to Parks, who fed Hewitt. The powerful centre wriggled his way out of Lou Reed’s tackle and dived over under the posts. This time Parks slotted the easy conversion to level the scores again.
It was end to end stuff and the Blues were looking to attack from deep with Hewitt, Roberts, Williams and Paterson combining well before Fish carried on the move. Eventually Parks went for a drop goal that just drifted wide.
Half time Scarlets 20 Cardiff Blues 20
The second half started as the first ended, but this time Parks slotted the drop goal to put the Blues ahead for the first time. However, the Blues were dealt a blow when Xavier Rush was forced to leave the field, conscious on a stretcher, after a collision with Scarlets prop Rhys Thomas.
Priestland slotted a penalty and then Laulala was forced to leave the field with a thigh strain and things would get worse for the Blues.
The Scarlets regained the lead after their forwards and backs combined well to put Sean Lamont in on the left. Martyn Williams was then sent to the bin for deliberately coming in from the wrong side.
The score ignited the Blues who started the fight back all the way into Scarlets twenty two, however the move broke down and this time it was the Scarlets who attacked all the way up-field in that was a thrilling match. Priestland converted another penalty and the Blues were out of the losing bonus point range and with the news that Aironi were beating the Ospreys it was an even tenser ending that usual.
With the Blues down to 14 men it was always going to be difficult and when Lamont broke through to score under the posts for the Scarlets fourth try it meant the Blues were out of the top four and the Scarlets were in. However, news that the Ospreys had defeated Aironi it meant that the Swansea side would be in the play offs and despite a late rally form Hewitt who came close to scoring, the Blues season was over.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish 14 Jamie Roberts 13 Casey Laulala (61off) 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Chris Czekaj 10 Dan Parks 9 Richie Rees (66off)
8 Xavier Rush (46off) 7 Martyn Williams 6 Sam Warburton 5 Paul Tito (c) (66off) 4 Michael Paterson 3 Taufa’ao Filise (75off) 2 Gareth Williams 1 Sam Hobbs (71off)
16 Rhys Williams 17 Tom Davies (75on) 18 Scott Andrews (71on) 19 Deiniol Jones (66on) 20 Ma’ama Molitika (46on) 21 Lloyd Williams (66on) 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Harry Robinson (61on)
Scarlets: 15 Morgan Stoddart 14 George North 13 Regan King 12 Scott Williams 11 Sean Lamont 10 Stephen Jones 9 Tavis Knoyle
1 Iestyn Thomas 2 Matthew Rees (capt) 3 Rhys Thomas 4 Lou Reed 5 Dominic Day 6 Rob McCusker 7 Johnathan Edwards 8 Ben Morgan.
16 Emyr Phillips 17 Phil John 18 Peter Edwards 19 David Lyons 20 Richie Pugh 21 Martin Roberts 22 Rhys Priestland 23 Lee Williams.
Half time Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues
Tries Czekaj x 1 Hewitt x 1
Pen Parks x 2
Con Parks x 2
D/G Parks x 1
Scarlets
Tries I Thomas x 1 Morgan x1 Lamont x 2
Pen S Jones x 2 Priestland x 2
Con S Jones x 1 Priestland x 1
D/G
Referee: Nigel Owens
Yellow Card: Paterson, Williams
Attendance: 11,200