Former Llanelli players sink old club
Cardiff 20 Llanelli 16
Tries by Mike Phillips and Andy Powell, two players who left the Scarlets in the summer, brought a much needed victory for their new employers.
It lifted the cloud of gloom which had been hanging over the Arms Park following two defeats to begin the Celtic League season.
The first score, a breakaway effort by scrum-half Phillips, eased the tension on the home side after 12 minutes.
The Welsh international pounced on a loose ball behind the visitors’ scrum, hacked it downfield and outpaced the covering defenders to touchdown after a 60-yard gallop.
Nicky Robinson’s conversion and a long-range penalty eclipsed an early kick by Mike Hercus for the Scarlets and accurately reflected the first half play.
The scoreline could have been higher, however, with no fewer than four penalties rebounding off the woodwork – two for each team – with the most notable a mammoth effort by Scarlets’ full-back Barry Davies from wide of his own 10-metre line.
The visitors came out firing for the second half and were rewarded with a try from their first attack.
Blues wing Craig Morgan tried to intercept a long pass by fly-half Hercus, but the ball went over his head to Lee Byrne, who raced clear before passing inside for half-time replacement Paul Mackey to dive over.
The Blues responded with a brilliantly crafted score. Robinson lofted a perfect cross-kick, which Morgan palmed down to number eight Powell and he trotted in unopposed. Robinson converted.
The West Walians rang the changes and replacement fly-half Gareth Bowen slotted over a penalty, but Robinson, who had an outstanding match for the Blues, dropped a goal to maintain the difference.
The Blues had to defend desperately at the end – flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor was yellow-carded – and finally conceded a touchdown in the corner to the impressive Byrne. It was no more than an irritant as the home fans celebrated.
