MotM Xavier Rush Scores
Sale Victory Ensures a Tight Finish
MotM Xavier Rush Scores
By Andrew Collins
January 16 2010
Dai Young will be a pleased man this evening, following an encouraging performance from his hit-and-miss Blues squad. Cardiff have come under harsh criticism this season, but a highly professional 36-19 win keeps their Heine hopes just about alive.
MotM Xavier Rush Scores
January 16 2010
Dai Young will be a pleased man this evening, following an encouraging performance from his hit-and-miss Blues squad. Cardiff have come under harsh criticism this season, but a highly professional 36-19 win keeps their Heine hopes just about alive.
Despite not registering a bonus point, and leaking 3 soft tries, the Blues boys will be happy with a solid victory over one of England's top sides. The Blues crossed three times in a match they dominated, all of which came in the second half.
Cardiff opened the scoring with a Ben Blair penalty, which became a common occurrence as the match wore on, before Sale flanker Sisa Koyamaibole crossed for an unexpected score when the Blues own 5 meter scrum went to pieces.
Blair restored the lead with another two penalties, while Leigh Halfpenny's 50 metre effort ensured the home side took a lead into half time.
Half Time
Cardiff Blues 12
Sale Sharks 5
The Blues came firing out of the traps at the start of the second period and were rewarded with an early nerve-settling try for Ritchie Rees. The scrum half has been in superb form this season, and has arguably been the best back in the Blues squad. He continued his string of impressive performances against Sale, and was unlucky not to receive Sky TV's man of the match award (Xavier Rush). Rees began the drive forward to the visitors line and ended up crossing after his forwards domination had taken them within 5 metres, the ball squirmed out of the ruck, but Rees was quick to gather and cross for a converted try.
Moments later and the Blues were looking dangerous, as once again the forwards began their surge up field. Rees was involved again as the try loomed ominously for the English club, with the scrum half providing an exquisite offload to Bradley Davies to score, the faultless Blair converting.
Matthew Tate benefitted from some lax Blues defending, although credit to the Sale backs for finding holes in an otherwise organised defence. Charlie Hodgeson, who had already missed two simple penalty attempts, nearly missed the easiest of conversions; however his attempt ricocheted off the post to go over.
At 26-12, Ben Blair slotted yet another shot at goal, taking the visitors out of bonus point territory, and effectively gifting his side the win. Having smelt blood, fans and players alike, the push for a bonus point was on, but despite the all their best efforts, Sale kept the home side frustrated with periods of gritty defending.
Sale did claim a third try minutes from the end, which suddenly gave them the possibility of going home with 2 losing bonus points should they had crossed once more, but indeed it wasn't to be for Sale, and to compound their misery, Xavier Rush intercepted to score a fully deserved try for an outstanding performance - he looked like a man who wanted a new contract!
Of course, Blair converted the extras to give himself a 18 point haul (4 pens and 3 cons) but it was Rush and not his Kiwi counterpart, nor for that matter Rees or Deiniol Jones who were equally outstanding, who won the Man of the Match award. I can only hope the Blues board realise this match would not have been won without the hugely important New Zealand duo, who have both been liked with moves away from the Blues in the summer.
Still, contracts aside it was a massively encouraging result for the fans, who had seen their team ‘nilled' against the Ospreys just a fortnight ago. It keeps their Heineken Cup qualification hopes just about alive, but more likely a chance to compete in the Amlin Challenge Cup, in what would be a first for any Cardiff side.
Full Time
Cardiff Blues 36
Sale Sharks 19
Following the match Dai Young told BBC Sport,
"I thought the players demonstrated a really professional performance today. We talked about how we wanted to play the game and they pretty much went out and delivered what we talked about and the way we trained. Hopefully Harlequins can do a job for us and it goes into the last week then with still things to play for."
Cardiff Blues: Blair; Halfpenny, Laulala, Roberts, T James; Sweeney, Rees; Jenkins, G. Williams, Filise, Davies, Jones, A Powell, M Williams, Rush.
Replacements: Shanklin for Laulala (69), Cooper for Rees (72), T Thomas for G. Williams (70), G Powell for Filise (65), Tito for Jones (57).
Tries: Rees, B Davies, Rush
Cons: Blair 3
Pens: Blair 4, Halfpenny
Attendance: 9,172
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Sale Victory Ensures a Tight Finish
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 16/01/2010 22:41
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