Cardiff Blues v Connacht

I went to the Cardiff Blues rugby match on Saturday to help out with their media staff. Feeling the effects of Friday night, an awful encounter on a freezing afternoon wasn't what I had in mind, so, I was glad of the banter provided by Sarah and Helen (thanks girls!)

Here's a quick piece on what we witnessed on the pitch.

Man of the match Ben Blair scored five penalties to secure a narrow victory for the Blues at the Arms Park . The Kiwi full back came up trumps with five successful kicks out of six to steal the points in what was a scrappy affair to register the Blues’ fourth win of their Magner's League campaign.

A minute's silence was observed before kick off in honour of Welsh Rugby Union President Keith Rowlands - an ex-Cardiff player and administrator - who died on Saturday at the age of 70.

It seemed to have a negative effect on the Blues fifteen as they struggled to clear their lines after Connacht's switched kick off. The first minute brought the only try of the match after the Irishmen recycled quick ball to allow ex-Newport wing Matt Mostyn to burst through the midfield defence to score near the posts. Mostyn was injured in scoring the try and was replaced by Conor McPhillips. Fly-half Paul Warwick added the conversion.

Connacht dominated possession for the rest of the half and should have extended their lead when Warwick sent a clever cross kick to McPhillips but the ever-increasing wet conditions defeated the right winger in the corner. Blair kept the Blues in touch by kicking three penalties. Warwick added a further two penalties to see his team go into half time with a slender 13-9 advantage.

Led by captain Xavier Rush, Cardiff showed more urgency in the second period but this was a match littered with sporadic pieces of quality. Nicky Robinson maintained the pressure with several up’n’unders which Connacht fullback Dan O’Riordan hesitantly dealt with. Blair calmly kicked a penalty midway through the half and the Blues fight back was complete when Blair scored again on 69 minutes to put the Blues into the lead for the first time in the match.