Cardiff recorded their second highest score against London Welsh as they ran in 12 tries in the Arms Park sunshine.
The game kicked off in front of a healthy crowd who had remembered those who had been lost to both clubs since the last game played – over 17 months previously.
It didn’t take long for the Blue & Blacks to get into rhythm as Sean Moore, making his debut, went over following a period of possession, Jack Maynard converted. The Exiles came back strongly and kept the ball for a a number of phases, the Blue & Black defence though was in no mood to be breached, and a turn over won them good field position in the Welsh half.
From the turnover the ball passed through several pairs of hands before Maynard and Jacob Beetham combined to send winger Ryan Edwards over under the posts. The try was converted and this spurred opposite wing Jake Thomas into action. His first try would have been applauded all the way down to Ninian Park as he expertly dribbled the ball through, and hacked it forward before scooping it up to score wide out.
His second was down to pace. Tom Hoppe made a break before feeding the winger who scorched in from 40 metres. Hoppe himself got on the score sheet before Thomas scored his third on the stroke of half time.
The second half produced more of the same. Thomas scored his fourth, again down to the sheer pace that the winger has. Former Jersey Red, Rory Bartle, making a welcome return to playing, was next on the score sheet, running straight and hard to score under the sticks.
The Exiles stuck to their game and had a period of possession that saw them work their way into the Cardiff half. After a couple of penalties sent into the corner were stopped illegally referee Adam Jones had seen enough and awarded a penalty try.
Back bounced the Blue & Blacks as Gareth Allen went over from close range, before Ethan Fackrell got a try his performance had deserved. Maynard converted all of the tries, and Cardiff finished the game in style when a sweeping move was finished off by James Beal.
The Blue & Blacks move onto to their next assignment in two weeks time with a trip to Carmarthen when they will be hoping for more of the same.
Post Match Interviews
Rory Bartle
Jake Thomas
Alex Everett
Ethan Fackrell