Ulster 9 Cardiff Blues 11
Friday 24 April 7.30pm kick off
The Blues got off to a good start with Andy Powell carrying strongly and well supported by Rhys Thomas that lead to an early penalty that Sweeney converted.
Seven minutes into the game a collision in midfield between Rhys Thomas and Paddy Wallace saw the Irish Grand Slam winner and Thomas leave the field with head injuries. Ulster, however, made the most of the territory with a sweetly struck drop goal by outside half Niall OConnor.
Ulster were beginning to dominate territory but were failing to turn it into points with some determined defending keeping them out until Schifcofke kicked a penalty in the 25th minute.
The Blues however did threaten with Andy Powell breaking and Sweeney releasing Robinson on the right who put in a neat grubber for Loxton to touch down on his debut. Sweeney was unlucky with the conversion hitting the upright.
The Blues threatened again with Powell and Gill charging well, before the move broke down five yards short of the Ulster try line. Gareth Thomas and Czekaj were also proving difficult to stop breaking the gain line with some powerful runs with the Blues finishing the half strongly. Sweenye struck a simple penalty to bring the score on the break to 6-11.
Half time Ulster 6 Cardiff Blues 11
Ulster started the second half with a lot of determination and were gaining good ground into the Blues half, but Czekaj did well to clear any danger having moved to Full back with Howells coming on for Loxton.
OConnor kicked a penalty to bring the scores to 9-11 and the Blues were starting to get rattled with the scrum going backwards and confusion in the defence. Ulster tried to capitalise kicking through before Sweeney finally cleared the danger.
The outside half was having a good match, doing well controlling the game and keeping Ulster back in their own twenty two whenever possible. With 10 minutes to go it was still 11-9 but the Blues were beginning to get a bit more direction to their game.
Ulster attacked late on but again they knocked the ball on with the try line in sight. Still they came and it was a tense finish with Ulster going for the win in injury time, but the young Blues team did well to hang on for an important win.
15 James Loxton (40off( 14 Richard Mustoe 13 Jamie Robinson 12 Gareth Thomas 11 Chris Czekaj 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Richie Rees
8 Andy Powell 7 Robin Sowden Taylor 6 Sam Warburton (75off) 5 Scott Morgan 4 Deiniol Jones 3 John Yapp 2 T Rhys Thomas (10off)1 Rhys Gill (75off)
16 Scott Andrews (75on) 17 Ross Johnson (10on) 18 James Down 19 Ben White (75on)
20 Darren Alinson 21 Dai Flanagan 22 Ryan Howells (40on)
Cardiff Blues
Tries Loxton x 1
Pens Sweeney x 2
Cons
DG
Ulster
Tries
Pens Schifcofske x 1 OConnor x 1
Cons
DG N OConnor x 1
Yellow Card: Rhys Gill