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Blues Capitulate At Strady

Blues Capitulate At Strad
By Andrew Collins March 22 2008
A dumb second half performance left the Cardiff Blues embarrassed at Strady Park, as Llanelli picked up a bonus point win over an inept Blues XV. The loss sees the end of Cardiff’s Magner’s League chances, as they record their fifth defeat in their last seven games.

If ever there was a performance that showed up Cardiff's lack of half back quality, last nights 35-17 loss was it. Ritchie Rees and Nick Macleod were the two players most at fault, in a side that lacked ideas and defensive discipline.

A bright start saw the Blues take a 7-0 lead, as the ever-impressive Jamie Roberts finished a good move after a lovely pop-pass offload from Gareth Thomas near the line. But when Regan King ran around the almost invisible Tal Selley, the Scarlets first score was inevitable, Iestyn Thomas the man who eventually bulldozed his way over.

Cardiff hit back well in attack however, Scott Morgan the man who eventually crossed after a well worked break up field. Blair converted for the second time.

Morgan Stoddard was the second man of the half to take advantage of the appalling Tal Selley, he strode too easily around the loan winger as the Scarlets set off again, this time Gavin Evans was the benefactor.

Ben Blair and Steven Jones exchanged penalties before half time, and it was the visitors who had the lead at the break, but that was to be the last score for the Blues' evening, as a miserable second half saw the Scarlets score two unanswered tries through Dwaine Peel and Dafydd James as well as two penalty goals from the boot of Jones.

The real story for the Blues was the dismal displays from Rees, Macleod, Jamie Robinson and Tal Selley. For the first two, a lack of control, ideas and execution were to blame for the visitors downfall, while the later duo were simply awful in dense and attack.

The loss ensures the Blues are out of contention for the Magner's League, although they will have a shot at redemption when the face the Scarlets at the Arms Park a week after the Heineken Cup Quarter Finals in Toulouse.

The only positives for head coach Dai Young will have been the long awaited return of Marc Stcherbina, who has been absent nearly all season, while Dai Flanagan also made a return to action.

Dai Young said after the match;

"In attack we didn't keep the ball, we got turned over far too often and lacked a cutting edge but defensively was our biggest disappointment. We put ourselves in some good positions but the money balls eluded us. We must be more accurate and clinical if we're to come to places like Stradey Park and win. The Magners League title wasn't won or lost here but the defeat makes it more difficult for us and we've put ourselves under undue pressure."

Scarlets (15) 35
Tries: I Thomas, Evans, Peel, James
Cons: S Jones 3
Pens: S Jones 3

Blues (17) 17
Tries: Roberts, Morgan
Cons: Blair 2
Pen: Blair

Blair, J Roberts, J Robinson, G Thomas, Selley, Macleod, Rees, Yapp, R Thomas, G Powell, D Jones, Morgan, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Rush.

Stcherbina for Selley (71), Flanagan for Macleod (52), Spice for Rees (52), G Williams for R Thomas (60), Filise for G Powell (60), Lewis for Molitika (69), White for Sowden-Taylor (49).

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