By Andrew Collins
May 15 2006

The Cardiff Blues edged out Leinster to win a thrilling game at the Millenium Stadium on Sunday, becoming Wales' top region.

There was a new Celtic League record for the Welsh stadium fixture, 15, 327 turned up to see one of the best games of the season, and possibly the most exciting game in the Blue's short history.

With Leinster sitting 2nd, a point behind Ulster, there was a lot to play for for the Irish. Having been knocked out of the Heineken cup Semi-Finals by Munster, they found themselves at the Stadium a week earlier than they had wanted, but still playing for silverware.

It was the perfect start for Cardiff, under 3 minutes into the game, and Nick Macleod got himself on the scoresheet, with an unorthadox full back try, barging his way over from short range after a supurb break from Jamie Robinson. The move started with Sowden-Taylor's excellent pick up from a loose line-out, and continued on through Jamie Robinson, Mike Phillips and Craig Morgan before the rosie cheecked 22 year old went over unconverted to give a 5-0 lead.

Nick Robinson made amends with two penalty's in quick successsion before Leinster got their first of 3 fortunate trys. Turn-over ball was well used by Leinster, going from one 22 to the other, but when Chris Czeakj gathered a chip through, it looked as though the danger had been dealt with, but Mike Phillips chose to box kick rather than pass to Craig Morgan, and got charged down leading to a simple score for Shane Horgan. Craig Morgan lookie-like Felipo Contepomi converted.

Miker Phillips then made up for his charge down with a great solo score. At a maul on half way, he sniped around the fringes running into the Irish 22, then in a one-on-one with Lions full back Girvan Dempsey, turned him inside-out scoring under the posts without being touched by the flailing Dempsey. Robinson convereted.

Contepomi added a great 50-metre penalty, before the Blues had chance to throw the game away again. An awful chip effort by Nick Robinson just outside the 22 was charged down by lock Adam Brynes, and just as it looked as though Phillips had recovered, his kick took a decieving bounce and fell straight into the hands of Lion Gorden D'Arcy, again converted by Contepomi.

In an all action first half, the Cardiff Blues led by a point at the break.

Half Time

Cardiff Blues 18 Leinster 17

Cardiff came back out to a huge ovation from the largest crowd they've had in a years. The majority of the 15,327 were home fans, who may well be enticed to renew or buy season tickets on this games showing alone.

Cardiff again started brightly, with a series of good possesion kicks from Nick Robinson, Craig Morgan and Nick Macleod ousting the Irish with the kicking battle. But things got even better 9 minutes in, when a fabulous dummy and rn break by Marc Stcherbina resulted in a stroll over try for Chris Czekaj. He takes his try tally up to 6 this season, and got the Blues off to a great start, with their 3rd try and extending the lead. Robinson converted to put 8 points between the two.

But the gap didn't last long, as some great play by Leinster and a very neat rounding of Nick Macloed by Denis Hickie brought the Dublin based outfit back within a point. It was a try of their own doing, for once, a clinical and wonderful finished by the Lion's winger and converted by Contepomi.

Yapp then found himself yellow carded for punshing, the second time in as many weeks for the young prop, who had his best game in two years for the region, having gone somewhat off the boil since his rise to Welsh status. This time however, he was joined by Adam Brynes, 14 vs 14 on the wide Millenium pitch.

The loss of Yapp seemed to affect teh Blues massively in the scrum, and their rolling maul had les ferocity about it. Robinson added a penalty as Cardiff nudged 4 points ahead, but Leinster once again got some luck in an attack approaching the final 10 minutes.

Contepomi tried a grubber dink through the defence towards the try line, with Jamie Robinson and Chris Czeakj tracking the ball back, it look a final bounce onto the post padding, and was missed by the pair and the chasing Horgan, but substitue Kearney was left with a simple pick up and tocuh down which, following the successful conversion, put them 31-28 up, and gave them a bonus point for getting 4 tries.

It looked set that the Irish would be going home happy, in what had already been a great encounter, but a final dramatic twist was yet to come.

Hitting back with everything they had, the Blues found their way up the 5 metre line following a great rolling maul. The attack was no goo, until Jamie Robinson hit a supurb angle and fed substitute flanker, and yet another Lion, Martyn Williams to catapult the Blues back into the lead. Robinson converted, and with 5 minutes to hold on, it set up a tense end.

But any nerves were put to bed by th ever reliable Craig Morgan. making his 200th Cardiff appearence, his final home game before departing to Bristol next season. The move was more about Jamie Robinsons perfectly timed and floated pass, but it seemed so fitting that a great servant of the club should go out on such a high, in the greatest of venues, in the greatest of games.

Morgan looked thrilled, and was congratulated by the entire playing and coaching staff, with whom he's very popular. He was also given a tremendous applause by the crowd, as he signed off in style.

Robinson missed the conversion, though it was irrellivant as Leinster were already 9 points behind, and went home with 1 point from their 4 tries.

A 9 try thriller in the Miller, as the day went down a huge success, and lived every bit up to the FA Cup match that preceeded it the day before. It was a great atchivement for the region, a new record crowd for cross border games (ie Welsh V Irish) as well as the all time Celtic League record, all of which without superstar Jonah Lomu.

Full Time

Cardiff Blues 40 Leinster 31

theArmsPark.co.uk Man of the Match - Jamie Robinson
Really could've been any of the boys yesterday, particular candidates included Mike Phillips who was excellant, Robin Sowden-Taylor who showed his sheer class and Rob Sidoli who looked like the player he was 3 years ago. Jamie gets it for a brilliant display of fluid, running rugby, playing the game at top pace and making it look so easy. He was able to find gaps that didn't exist, and his angle of running was fabulous all match. It's great to see him back to his best, and his Welsh call up earlier this week was fully justified. After the game he said,

"That's one of the most intense games I've played in. It was dry, a great surface, and there's so much width out there. It's been a great week for me - I was so chuffed to get back in the Wales squad, it's been a few years out for me."

Dai Young was delighted to round off a manic week, in which he was linked to Wales, Scarlets and Saracens but eventually confirmed his allegience to the region, in great fashion. The win means his side are guarenteed to be the highest placed Welsh region regardless of other scores. Cardiff travel to Munster next weekend, knowing they are Wales highest seeded team, and hav finally reached their potential. He said today,

"It was great entertainment, but no good for the nerves. I thought we were the better team from start to finish, but Leinster have a lot of good players and our lapses let them back in. We're going in the right direction and we have quality players here. What we need now is consistency and strength-in-depth. I'm confident and looking forward to next season."

Team
Macleod; Czekaj, J Robinson, Stcherbina, Morgan; N Robinson, M Phillips; Yapp, R Thomas, Jenkins; D Jones, Sidoli; Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Rush.

R. Powell (M. Phillips 79), Schubert (D. Jones 40), M. Williams (Molitika 67).