Cardiff were made to work for first win of 2025 against the All Whites
Cardiff RFC started the New Year in Super Rygbi Cymru with a hard-fought 32-22 win over Swansea RFC at a very cold Cardiff Arms Park.
Both Alun Rees and Ethan Lloyd scored twice, with Kodie Stone and Lucas de la Rua also crossing the whitewash as the Blue and Blacks ended block two of Super Rygbi Cymru with a win.
Before kick-off, there was a moment of reflection as the Arms Park was brought to silence as we remembered the lives of both Frank Wilson and Geoff Wheel. Fullback Josh Phillips then got the action underway with the temperature just above freezing.
The Blue and Blacks were then penalised almost straight away, and after kicking into touch a catch and drive followed. That driving maul began just outside the host’s 22, and from a powerful drive, Geraint Powell crossed the whitewash.
Powell was next to score moments later as after miscommunication over the Blue and Blacks tryline the number eight pounced on the loose ball to score his second. Phillps could not add the extras as the All Whites went into an early 12-0 lead.
The hosts then managed to start building momentum, and after back-to-back penalties, they found themselves metres from the Swansea line after a kick into the corner by Josh Thomas. From the resulting lineout, Alun Rees crossed over to score which now means the hooker has scored 150 points as a Blue and Black.
That early lead, by the All Whites was reduced even further just five minutes later as Kodie Stone crossed over in the corner. This came after some big hits from the Blue and Blacks forwards, resulting in the backs showcasing some brilliant handling skills for Stone to crossover.
On 27 minutes, the Blue and Blacks were closing in on their third of the afternoon but were eventually held up over the tryline and the visitors relieved pressure. There was an injury blow for the hosts as Luke Pollock who was starting in the centre for the first time since October was replaced by Fraser Jones.
However, that pressure was asserted back onto the All Whites minutes later as after Ed Thompson was yellow carded the hosts kicked into the 22. It was again some brilliant defensive work from the visitors as Cardiff were unable to find a way through and the ball was turned over.
Before halftime, the Blue and Blacks did manage to find a way through for their third as Ethan Lloyd sneaked his way over. Josh Thomas added the extras as Cardiff went in at the break leading for the first time in the game.
HT: Cardiff 17-12 Swansea
That lead the Blue and Blacks had before the interval was narrowed after Josh Phillips converted a penalty, making it a two-point game on 41 minutes. The visitors were then on the attack but this time around it was the hosts turn to show off their heroic defensive skills as they turned the ball over and won a penalty to relieve pressure.
In only his second game as a Blue and Black, Edmund Anya showed his pace as he broke through the visitors’ defence and put Cardiff on the front foot. Josh Thomas brilliantly put a cross field kick in behind that Joe Goodchild gathered but was taken out in the air.
From the resulting penalty, another catch and drive followed and this time around it was Lucas de la Rua who crossed to secure the bonus point for the hosts. This was then followed by another driving maul moments later as Alun Rees crossed for his brace.
Former Cardiff player Tom Edwards was next to score for the visitors as on 65 minutes he crossed for his fourth of the season and Josh Phillips added the extras which reduced the deficit to five points. However, with the clock almost in the red Cardiff went hunting for their sixth of the afternoon.
This came from Aled Ward breaking away from the scrum as he offloaded to Joe Williams who then passed back inside for Ethan Lloyd to crossover for his second of the match as Cardiff began 2025 with a brilliant 32-22 win.
Next for Dan Fish’s men is a trip to Church Bank on January 25th, where they play their first Super Rygbi Cymru Cup match.
FT: Cardiff 32-22 Swansea