After back-to-back defeats the Blue and Blacks got the ball rolling again as they recorded another win over The Whites.
Steve Law’s men travelled to St Helen’s to take on Swansea in the 9th round of the Indigo Premiership and it was the Blue and Blacks that came away with the points as two of their three tries were scored by Joey Tomlinson.
Prior to kick-off, there was a minute of reflection for Swansea’s Schoolboys stalwart Ian Milne who sadly passed away aged 79. With a lot of rain falling overnight it made the St Helen’s turf very soft and meant the ball was very slippery.
However, with the forecast clear for the afternoon Joe Thomas got the game underway. Thomas kicked the ball slightly too far and hard as it rolled itself over the dead ball line with Cardiff returning back to the halfway line for a scrum.
Cardiff broke the deadlock just after the 10-minute mark with a cross field kick from Arwel Robson. Dewi Cross successfully gathered the ball and offloaded it to Luke Pollock who then cut back into the field and passed it to Tom Habberfield who scored the first try of the afternoon. This was also the 31-year-old’s first try of the season.
Minutes later referee Rhys Jones awarded the Blue and Blacks a penalty just outside Swansea’s 22, Arwel Robson kicked into the corner. After regathering at the lineout, a powerful driving maul followed with captain Joey Tomlinson crossing for the second try of the afternoon and also his first of the season.
With the majority of ball possession being in favour of the away side for the first 20 minutes, Swansea began to make life difficult for the Blue and Blacks. Swansea decided to kick the ball from around the halfway line deep into Cardiff’s 22, and it was a well-measured kick as winger Dewi Cross took it back over Cardiff’s line resulting in a 5 metre scrum for The Whites.
Throughout the entire first half The Blue and Blacks defence was like a brick wall as Swansea could not get through. On his 60th appearance for the club, Sean Moore relieved pressure for the Blue and Blacks after The Whites were penalised for holding on. Later on in the first half young Mackenzie Martin did the same.
This pattern continued for the home side as every time they entered Cardiff’s 22 they either knocked the ball on or had it turned over. This resulted in The Whites being pointless going into the break at St Helen’s.
HT: Swansea 0-12 Cardiff
Cardiff started second strongly with 26-year-old Arwel Robson keeping the scoreboard ticking over with a brilliant penalty kick. Later on skipper Joey Tomlinson crossed Swansea’s line from another driving maul for his second and put the Blue and Blacks 22 points clear just after the 50-minute mark.
The Whites weren’t going away quietly as they kept coming forward and this soon paid off with replacement Ieuan Bissell crossing for the home side’s first try of the afternoon.
It didn’t stop there after great build-up play from winger Matthew Jenkins, he set up Morgan Morse who made an unbelievable run from around the halfway line to cross for The Whites second try of the afternoon.
After a competitive final quarter with both sides sharing possession, The Blue and Blacks went hunting for that first bonus point win since Bridgend away. After numerous kicks into the corner and pressurising Swansea’s tryline, a misplacement with the ball meant referee Rhys Jones blew the final whistle.
Cardiff Starting XV:
15. Matty Young, 14. Joe Goodchild, 13. Luke Pollock, 12. Harrison James, 11. Dewi Cross, 10. Arwel Robson, 9. Tom Habberfield, 1. Ollie Evans, 2. Joey Tomlinson (C), 3. Christian Brooke, 4. Sean Moore, 5. Ethan Phillips, 6. Craig Hudd, 7. Lucas de la Rua, 8. Mackenzie Martin
Replacements: 16. Alun Rees, 17. Brynley Toms, 18. Jack Wiggins, 19. Morgan Allen, 20. Ioan Pascoe, 21. Joe Williams, 22. Jacob Lloyd, 23. Kodie Stone
Tries: Tom Habberfield (10), Joey Tomlinson (14, 54)
Conversions: Arwel Robson (10, 54)
Pens: Arwel Robson (43)
Swansea Starting XV:
15. Brandon Wood, 14. Matthew Jenkins, 13. Gareth O. Rees, 12. Marcus Brown, 11. Morgan Rees, 10. Joe Thomas, 9. Gareth J. Rees, 1. Freddie Chapman, 2. Jamie Cox, 3. Ed Thompson, 4. Lewis Jones, 5. Matt Dodd, 6. Joe Greaves, 7. Callum Bowden (C) 8. Morgan Morse
Replacements: 16. Owen Thomas, 17. Daf Davies, 18. Kian Hire, 19. Lloyd Ashley, 20. Sam Pailor, 21. Lewis Marsh, 22. Cameron Jones, 23. Ieuan Bissell
Tries: Ieuan Bissell (58), Morgan Morse (62)
Cons: Brandon Wood (58)
Referee: Rhys Jones