Blues see off Ospreys
PRO14 REPORT: Jason Harries and Josh Adams scored a try each as Cardiff Blues condemned the Ospreys to bottom place in Conference A with a comfortable 29-20 win.
Harries and Adams set-up one another in the first half, while Jason Tovey kicked 19 points at Rodney Parade.
The win lifts the Blues above Benetton and into fifth in Conference B, although the Italians can jump back above them later on Sunday night.
KEY MOMENTS
With the Blues’ regular home, Cardiff Arms Park, being used as a temporary hospital, this match was played at Rodney Parade.
And it was the Ospreys who settled the quicker and got the first points of the game through a Stephen Myler penalty.
Blues flyhalf Tovey levelled it in the 12th minute and the Blues gradually adapted to their surroundings and scored the first try mid-way through the first half.
Captain Josh Navidi made a powerful break through the heart of the Ospreys defence, carrying the Blues to the five-metre line – from where they worked it left and Harries dived over unopposed.
Ten minutes later, they added a second with Harries measuring a perfect kick for opposite winger Adams to touchdown.
The Ospreys responded five minutes before half-time, with full-back Dan Evans straightening up and sliding under the posts after a Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler pass.
The Blues regrouped at the break and Tovey kicked three quick penalties to extend their lead to 26-13.
Olly Cracknell’s sin-bin didn’t help the Ospreys’ cause and the Blues thought they had a third score when Adams was released in the corner – only for replays to show Harries knocked-on in the build-up.
Tovey’s fourth penalty of the half put the Blues 16 points clear, although the Ospreys scored a late consolation when Alun Wyn Jones popped up a perfect off-load for Luke Morgan to score.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Jason Tovey
Jason Tovey’s 19 points proved decisive in the end and the goal-kicker took full advantage of every Ospreys disciplinary error.
He also orchestrated everything the Blues did from fly-half in a polished display.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Adams’ try was a thing of beauty, with Harries repaying the favour to set-up his opposite winger.
The No.14 came off the right flank, received the ball in midfield and clipped a delightful kick through for Adams to dot down in the corner.
The scorers
For Cardiff Blues
Tries: Harries, Adams
Cons: Tovey 2
Pens: Tovey 5
For Ospreys
Tries: Evans, Morgan
Cons: Myler, Protheroe
Pens: Myler 2
Yellow card: Olly Cracknell (Ospreys, 59)
The teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Jason Harries, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Josh Navidi (c), 7 James Botham, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Josh Turnbull, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Liam Belcher, 1 Corey Domachowski
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 James Ratti, 20 Sam Moore, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Ioan Davies
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Dewi Cross, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Justin Tipuric (c), 6 Olly Cracknell, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Rhodri Jones
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Nicky Thomas, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Morgan Morris, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Mat Protheroe, 23 Keiran Williams
Referee: Adam Jones
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens, Dan Jones
TMO: Sean Brickell
Source: @PRO14Official
