55,000 fans at Twickenham, plus thousands watching at home on BBC 1 witnessed the Cardiff Blues in a near perfect performance in which the Welsh side outclassed one of English rugby's most highly rated sides.

Cardiff made it 13 consecutive wins over English sides, and an insane 13 from 13 Cup wins this season with a display that will have sent a message to Europe's three remaining Heineken Cup sides, Leicester, Munster and Leinster.

Cardiff looked the more confident side in the opening exchanges, and though Blair and lamb both missed kickable penalties in the first five minutes, Cardiff's first try set the tone for their intentions.

With Jason Spice departing after just 2 minutes with a broken arm, sadly it's likely to be his final appearance before a move to Bristol in the summer, Ritchie Rees came on and made the most of his chance.

First, Nick Robinson broke the Gloucester defence on halfway, making the most of two forwards in the line, he then found the ever-present Martyn Williams who cut back inside to Leigh halfpenny. The youngster offloaded back the opposite way once more to Ritchie Rees, who's sublime scissor pass back to Halfpenny allowed the exciting winger to cruise in under the posts for perhaps the regions greatest ever try.

Blair added the conversion and a penalty to take the Welsh side up to 10 points, before Jamie Roberts used his strength and vision to reclaim a bouncing ball, make the hard yard and provide Tom Shanklin with a great pop pass. Shanklin took the tackle and offloaded to Martyn Williams, who's vision not to give the obvious pass to Felise, but float a lofted ball blindside to Halfpenny ensured ‘HP' his second try after just 20 minutes.

Gloucester fought their way back into the match with a well worked try for Mark Foster. The relatively inexperienced winger was at the end of a good phase of play to touch down in the corner, to register their first score of the afternoon, 17-5 to Cardiff with half hour gone.

But Dai Young's side weren't finished yet, and Tom James showed tremendous strength and a great rugby brain to prevent Ryan Lamb dragging him into touch, and place the ball down one handed behind him. It was reward for a half in which the Blues thoroughly dominated.

Half Time

Cardiff Blues 22
Gloucester 5

Though the half time analysis claimed the match was effectively over, Cardiff were determined not to underestimate a top quality side, and the first 20 minutes of the second half was largely a battle to determine the match. The next score would be crucial, and both sides knew it.

Cardiff came closest when Nick Robinson again broke the line, and because the pass wasn't available, put in a wonderful grubber kick which Jamie Roberts was unlucky not to pounce on over the Gloucester try line.

But the second half deadlock was eventually broken as Robinson once again broke the Gloucester defence. The Kingsholm-bound fly half caught Olly Morgan's up and under, and ran through several player before offloading to Gethin Jenkins. The mobile prop carried forward from half way into the Cheery and Whites twenty two before popping up to Ben Blair on the shoulder, who ran in between the posts, converting his own score.

Blair's 66^th minute score sealed the win for Cardiff at 29-5, and from there on it was about enjoying the Cup final day out for the players and fans alike.

The visiting Welsh fans were in great voice, with Calon Lan, Bread of Heaven and Hymns and Arias echoing around the home of English rugby, as Cardiff continued to play majestic attacking rugby, combined with stunning defence and a determination to win that will forever epitomise this group of players.

Just a minute later, Ceri Sweeney came on for Nick Robinson and with his first touch put in a massive up and under for a forwards chase into the Glos half. But when they failed to catch the initial kick, Sweeney was on hand to collect his own kick from the bounce, to run in unopposed with just his second touch for a wonderful solo try.

Then on 76 minutes, with the West Country side defending on their own line, a Gareth Cooper box kick landed straight in the lap of Ben Blair. Blair carried before passing to Tom James, who terrorised the defence before offloading to, yes you guessed it, Martyn Williams, who's instant pop pass drew the covering man, but fed Ben Blair for his second of the afternoon. It was yet another stunning score by the Heineken Cup Semi Finalists, who frankly outclassed their opponents in every department. Blair converted from out wide for a 43-5 score line.

In all credit to Gloucester, whose heads obviously went after Blair's first crucial second half try, they fought back to register their second try of the game. Having worked themselves into a try scoring opportunity, Cardiff continually infringed at the scrum and conceded a penalty try with 7 minutes to go.

But Cardiff were determined to get the last laugh, and when Martyn Williams took a quick tap penalty on half way, the Blues were once again on the attack and looking dangerous. Williams fed Paul Tito, who then threw a long pass to Tom Shanklin as it suddenly opened up for the centre to run in from out wide to score under the posts. It was fair reward for a stunning display from the Welshman, who after yet another outstanding display, must surely have booked his place on the plane to South Africa.

Blair converted with the last touch of the match, taking his side to an incredible 50 points!

Full Time

Cardiff Blues 50
Gloucester 12

Cardiff had been absolutely rampant, and looked world class going forward, at the breakdown and in defence to secure the EDF Cup as their first ever piece of silverware, and Cardiff Rugby's first since 2000.

Leigh halfpenny, Martyn Williams, Nick Robinson and Tao' Felise were all stand out players, but in truth, every man was a hero. There was an air of confidence, belief and determination to all 22 men that hasn't been seen by a Cardiff side in recent memory. It will be argued that this was the best performance by a Cardiff side ever, and certainly in my own memory, that's the case, but the point is the Welsh Capitol are back.

theArmsPark.co.uk's Man of the Match - Nick Robinson
The BBC gave it to Martyn Williams, and I'm not going to argue with that, but for me, Robinson was the complete package on Saturday. He ran at the right times, kicked when he should have kicked, and completely dictated a game in which his side scored 7 tries against one of the most renowned club teams in Europe. His performance was perfect, and at long last, he has proved to his critics once and for all that he is up there with the best fly half in Britain. Robinson for the Lions?

Blair; Halfpenny, Shanklin, J Roberts, James; N Robinson, Spice; Jenkins, G Williams, Filise, Davies, Tito, Molitika, M Williams, Rush.

G Thomas for Halfpenny (67), Sweeney for N Robinson (67), Rees for Spice (2), T Thomas for G Williams (61), Yapp for Filise (70), D Jones for Davies (65), A Powell for Molitika (58).

Scorers
Tries: Halfpenny 2, Blair 2, James, Sweeney, Shanklin
Conversions: Blair 6 from 7
Penalties: Blair 1

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