Cardiff earned a bonus point win at Church Bank on Saturday. Having lost in the cup semi-final the week before this was a great was to bounce back. The Drovers were first to score when a lineout reaped reward. The ball was sent straight out into the backline but a cutback found a hole and Craig Thomas was on hand to score.
Cardiff were soon level. A clearance kick only found Cameron Winnett on halfway. He moved the ball across the line to Mason Grady on the other wing, the powerful centre needed no further invitation, setting off down the touchline skittling several home players as he went, eventually touching down for his first try of the afternoon. Cardiff’s lineout has been a weapon recently, but the scrum provided the platform for the next try. A Drovers put in to a five-metre scrum was disrupted and the ball stolen. Once it reached Luke Scully he was able to put Max Llewellyn under the sticks for Cardiff’s second and a 12-7 half time lead.
The lineout was back early in the second half, this time from seven metres out. On came the drive and home team were unable to stop Alun Rees going over from the back of the maul. From the kick-off though Cardiff failed to secure the ball and a couple of phases later the home side crossed for a converted try.
Cardiff hit back. A scrum in the Drovers twenty-two was moved through a few phases stretching the defence. At the third ruck the defence split and Sean Moore picked up and galloped over for the bonus point try .Another lineout was to add more points, this time from five metres out – Morgan Allen the scorer. Cardiff’s next try was a real team try. From the kick-off Cardiff controlled the ball and worked their way up field. James Beal made a break supported by Rhys Anstey and when the ball went wide Winnett’s grubber through was perfectly place for Gardy to score his second. Llandovery cut the deficit with a Tomi Lewis try but the final try was the one to complete Grady’s hattrick.
The forwards carried really well making inroads into the Drovers half and when Fish switched direction the cover was not there and Grady was able to power over in the corner to complete a convincing win for the Blue & Blacks