Cardiff Blues tunneled their way into the Heineken cup with a convincing win over the third placed Italian club side. I say convincing, but the first half was anything but that. Leading 9-6 at half time, the Blues were looking very much the better side, but the game had that surreal air of an impending upset.
The conditions were very much in the favour of the home side, and the hot, muggy weather was just the kind of stamina sapping leveler that could have produced a surprise.
Given the number of fumbles and knock-ons, you could have been forgiven for believing the match was being played in the farthest corner of the Glamorgans late in the worst December on record from a meteorlogical perspective.
There was evidence of rustiness from the Welsh region, having kicked their heels for weeks prior to this match, but an early score by Robin Sowden-Taylor from a Sidoli lineout knockdown appeared to settle the Blues and it was one way traffic from there on in.
After an exchange of kicks, including an easy miss from the normally reliable McLeod, the Blues contrived to put together the move of the match, perhaps of their whole season when Williams, Robinson and Davies fashioned an opening for Dewdney to cruise over near the flag. McLeod popped over the conversion and suddenly it was 24-9 and Arix V were looking distinctly Parker Pen-ish.
Tries by Robinson from a Dewdney interception and Craig Morgan in injury time rounded off a good day's work for the Welshmen, who can now look forward to thrashing the likes of Toulouse, Leicester, Munster down at the Arms Park next season. I can feel a season ticket renewal coming on. I am such a sucker.....
Arix Viadana: Casper Steyn, Kaine Robertson, Andrea Masi, Diego Sacca, Tom Beim; Daryl Lilley, Matteo Mazzantini, Mario Savi (captain), Stefano Saviozzi, Carlos Nieto, Cristian Bezzi, Van Humphries, Daniel Stead, Andrea Benatti, Josh Sole. Replacements: Ermes De Bellis, Matias Aguero, Emanuele Brancalion, Gregor Hayter, Facundo Lopez, Pietro Travagli, Claudio Spadaro.
Cardiff Blues: N Macleod; D Dewdney, R Williams (captain), T Davies, C Morgan, N Robinson, R Powell, J Yapp, G Williams, B Evans, D Jones, R Sidoli, M Molitika, R Sowden-Taylor, M Lewis. Replacements: N Llewellyn, R Thomas, C Quinnell, N Budgett, L Thomas, S James, N Walne.
