Cardiff start with bonus-point win against Zebre

MATCH REPORT: Cardiff launched their United Rugby Championship campaign with a four-try bonus point victory over their determined Italian guests, Zebre, at the Arms Park.

There were first-half tries from fullback Cam Winnett, wing Iwan Stephens and flank Dan Thomas – with the first two created by the boot of Man of the Match Callum Sheedy.

Then, just before the hour mark, second row Josh McNally ploughed over off a line-out won by wing Mason Grady to secure maximum points.

Matt Sherratt’s team will now move on to a Welsh derby with a trip to Llanelli to take on the Scarlets lying ahead next Saturday.

The visitors, clad in bright yellow jerseys, opened the scoring after eight minutes when flyhalf Giovanni Montemauri landed a penalty earned at the breakdown.

But Cardiff swiftly responded with a try carved out by the combined creativity of their midfield.

Off a Teddy Williams line-out claim, Wales flyhalf Ben Thomas went to first receiver and worked a one-two with co-centre Rey Lee Lo who delivered an offload in the tackle to put Thomas into the space to make good ground.

Then, after the ball was recycled, it was over to former Bristol No.10 Sheedy. He had plentiful options with no fewer than eight men outside him to the left.

But, after taking a second to survey them all, he opted to go for the cross kick and executed it perfectly, enabling Winnett to touch down.

Sheedy slotted the conversion from wide out and then proceeded to provide further evidence of his ability to set up a score with that cultured right boot of his.

It was a very similar scenario to the opening try.

Once again, inside centre Thomas acted as the first receiver off a set-piece, with Davies by-passing decoy Sheedy from a scrum.

And, just like a few minutes earlier, Thomas put Lee-Lo into a half-gap, with the Samoan veteran crossing the gainline.

Then, once more, it was back to Sheedy off the resulting ruck, with the flyhalf this time putting in an intelligent grubber kick for Stephens who won the race to the ball to touch down.

It wasn’t long before Cardiff posted their third try, with the forwards now taking centre stage with a training ground score.

From a close-range line-out, Teddy Williams popped the ball down to fellow lock McNally and the pre-planning worked a treat as openside Thomas spun his way over the whitewash.

Having turned round with a 17-3 lead, the hosts went on to secure the four-try bonus point after 56 minutes.

It was another score from a training ground ploy, with Grady racing over from his right wing to stand at the front of the line-out and leap high to win the ball. Maybe there’s yet another position the utility back can occupy!

His successful leap set up a maul which was followed by strong carries from replacement back row Alun Lawrence and McNally, with the former Bath lock muscling his way over.

To their credit, Zebre weren’t about to lie down and delivered a fine try, with a delayed pass from Giacomo Da Re releasing centre Giulio Bertaccini who scythed his way through to the line from 40 metres out.

And the visitors from Parma had the final word when flank Samuele Locatelli went over in the final play to earn a deserved losing bonus point.

The scorers

For Cardiff
Tries: Winnett, Stephens, Thomas, McNally
Con: Sheedy

For Zebre
Tries: Bertaccini, Locatelli
Cons: Ferrari, Da Re
Pen: Montemauri

Teams

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Ben Donnell, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Danny Southworth.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Harri Millard.

Zebre: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Ben Cambriani, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Jacopo Trulla, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Ratko Jelic, 8 Giovanni Licata (captain), 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Luca Rizzoli.
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Giacomo Ferrari, 21 Rodrigo Patricio, 22 Francesco Ruffolo, 23 Giacomo Da Re.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Rhys Jones (Wales)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

* Source: @Cardiff_Rugby