Cardiff RFC ended their preparations for the upcoming Super Rygbi Cymru season with a 64-34 victory over Esher RFC at a wet Cardiff Arms Park.
Winger Dewi Cross scored four tries, whilst Alun Rees bagged himself a brace with two crosses in the opening quarter. Sonny McCabe, Rhys Cummings, Evan Rees, and debutants Tirion Bowen and Tom Williams also crossed for the Blue and Blacks.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, head coach Dan Fish said: “First half was very stop-start and we couldn’t really get a rhythm into the game.
“Second half, we were much better, and we played how we want to go into the season. Multi-phase asking defenders to make decisions, and we ended up scoring some nice tries.
“Rest up now, ready for a big start to the season on the 13th of September in RGC.”
Story Of The Game
With the sky above the Cardiff Arms Park grey with cloud cover, the rain was coming down in torrents, ricocheting off the Peter Thomas Stand. Esher’s Oli Burgess got the Blue and Blacks’ first game back in the capital in 111 days underway.
Despite slippery conditions, it didn’t take long for the hosts to break the deadlock. After a misplacement in the visitors’ attack, Cardiff turned the ball over with hooker, Rees, offloading to Cross, who raced over after only two minutes.
That lead quickly doubled moments later as McCabe, who is still in Cardiff Rugby’s U18s squad, scored. This was after fullback Cummings kicked a 50/22 magnificently, which resulted in pressure on the visitors’ defence being rewarded.
The National League Two East side shortly responded on 10 minutes with Tommy Spiers scoring his side’s first of the afternoon from a catch and drive. After another driving maul this time around in favour of the hosts, Rees crossed for his second of the contest with outside half Lloyd Lucas adding the extras, which saw the Blue and Blacks lead 19-5 after an entertaining opening quarter.
However, that deficit was reduced four minutes later, as the downpour stopped for only a short period, hooker Spiers crossed for his second with Burgess slotting the extras. With Saturday’s encounter only being Cummings’ second outing for the Blue and Blacks, he scored on the 25-minute mark, and this came from quick thinking and excellent handling from the hosts’ backline.
Before the interval and despite a brilliant chaseback from debutant Williams, the English clubside scored their third. Openside Olly Norris crossed, which meant the Blue and Blacks went in at the break with a lead of nine points.
HT: Cardiff 26-17 Esher
Head coach Fish made one change at the break with Cam Tyler-Grocott replacing Joe Cowell at loosehead. Then, the Blue and Blacks were down to 14 men after referee Keith David awarded Joe Goodchild a yellow card, only two minutes into the second half.
With the one-man advantage and from the resulting kick into the corner, Esher reduced the deficit to just four points. Tighthead Bryce Stockton was the man who got the grounding, and this came from a driving maul. Debutant Bowen extended the hosts’ lead further after 45 minutes, and this came from brilliant handling from himself and scrum half Sion Davies.
Winger James Botterill, after stepping on the outside, crossed over in the corner. This was then followed by Cross scoring his second after a timely kick in behind from outside half Lucas. He then added the extras, which meant the hosts were in front by 11 points prior to the hour mark. Esher then found themselves reduced to 14 men, and this was due to a hit on captain Jason Harries as replacement, Joe Vajner was sent off for ten minutes.
Debutant Williams then scored the hosts’ seventh on 66 minutes. Cross then scored in the corner to claim his hat-trick, which also resulted in the winger scoring 280 points for the club. That then instantly changed to 285 points as Cross regathered a grubber kick in behind from Joe Goodchild to claim his fourth of the match.
In the closing moments of the encounter, Evan Rees scored his first try of pre-season, and this cross was also the Blue and Blacks’ tenth of the afternoon. Despite the clock being in the red, the visitors’ captain Cam Wilkins crossed, but it proved insufficient as Cardiff recorded their second win of pre-season in a high-scoring game.
FT: Cardiff 64-34 Esher