Cardiff went into round two of the National Cup but not without conceding more points than in any other game this season.
A warm welcome greeted the travelling fans, and from early on the home side looked as if they were going to be just as welcoming on the pitch. Two early tries set Cardiff on their way. After working a position in the Tata twenty-two saw Will Rees-Hole cross for a converted try. The second was a contender for try of the season. An off the top lineout was worked along the backline and when Rees-Hole sent Tom Williams away he was able to feed Edd Howley. The winger finishing in style.
If the blue & blacks thought that would mean an easy ride they thought wrong. The kick offs had been an issue and when the third one resulted in the ball in home hands they capitalised with a concerted try. When the home team scored a second try it was a different game. Cardiff responded quickly, Keiron Brown plunging over and when Adam Jones scored the fourth normal service seemed to have been resumed. But the restarts were an issue and with tackling becoming optional Tata grabbed a third.
They nearly had a fourth but the ball went loose near the Cardiff line and Adam Jones linked with Tom Williams who made it to half way before Howley was sent on his way, the winger powering over untouched. Williams himself was able to cross for Cardiff’s sixth all being converte by Steffan Jones to send them in 42-19 up at half time.
A serious talking to at half time should have set the Blue & Blacks back on track but an attack on the Tata line went wrong as the Tata No 8 picked the ball off a ran the length to score. A fifth Tata try brought it to 42-33 and Cardiff really needed to sort things out. They did so, Tom Daley, Will Rees-Hole and Steffan Jones crossing to kill off the comeback. And when replacements Joey Tomlinson and Callun James crossed it was all over as contest. But Tata had the last say as the scored the games final try sending the Blue & Blacks through 73-43.