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February 21, 2009

Cardiff Blues 34 - 30 Glasgow Warriors

Celtic League match played at Arms Park on Friday February 20th 2009 | 10 comments

Shawzy scored Glasgow's final try to earn the bonus point
Cardiff Blues claimed revenge for their 28-0 defeat in Scotland in November but a second-half comeback by Glasgow made it a lot harder than looked likely at the interval of this Magners League encounter.

An aerial bombardment by international fly-half Dan Parks led to two tries, which had the 7,603 home crowd worried for a while, but the Blues' dominance at close quarters and greater penetration behind saw them home in the end.

Even though Parksy gave Glasgow an early lead with a long-range penalty, the Blues swept down field to claim three tries in 13 minutes.

Flying winger Tom James, cut inside to take a neat Ben Blair pass and dart through despairing arms to score the first.

Inside centre Dafydd Hewitt grabbed the opportunity of a rare outing to side-step and jink his way over for the second.

And his midfield partner, Jamie Robinson, who is leaving the Arms Park in the summer to play in France for Toulon, ended a flowing move by dummying his way past Glasgow full-back Bernardo Stortoni to complete the blitz.

Blair converted all three and there were further blows for the visitors with flankers Kelly Brown and Stevie Swindall both leaving through injury.

Kelly, a Scotland substitute in Paris last weekend, took a blow to the head, which must be a worry for national coach Frank Hadden.

Parksy kicked a second penalty before half-time, but his side had to defend grimly to avoid conceding a bonus point before the break.

Yet it was Glasgow who claimed the first touchdown of the second period, although it was a gift from Blues scrum-half Jason Spice, who failed to hold onto Dan's kick ahead.

Welsh winger Hefin O'Hare snaffled the loose ball and sent centre Ruaridh Jackson in for a try which Parksy converted.

Another up-and-under from the fly-half caused chaos, dropping in the Blues in-goal area.

Blair, under pressure, fumbled the ball and it fell invitingly for Bernie Stortoni to touch down.

Parksy again added the extras and it was only a brace of Blair penalties that kept the home side in front.

The Blues gradually regained control, however, and Robinson, earlier denied by a forward pass, claimed their fourth try on the word of the TV official. Blair's conversion extended the lead to a more comfortable 14 points.

But Glasgow were still not finished, Parksy kicking another penalty and converting an injury-time touchdown by wing Colin Shaw before the final whistle brought relief to the home camp.

Reasons to be cheerful - The Herald

Scots recover from poor first half performance to secure a bonus point in Cardiff - The Scotsman

Referee Alain Rolland (IRFU)
Attendance 7,603
Man of the Match
Team
1
Justin Va'a
2
Dougie Hall
3
Moray Low
4
Dan Turner
5
Alastair Kellock
6
Steve Swindall
7
Kelly Brown
8
John Beattie
9
Mark McMillan
10
Dan Parks
11
Hefin O'Hare
12
Ruaridh Jackson
13
Jose Maria Nunez Piossek
14
Colin Shaw
15
Bernardo Stortoni
Sub
Fergus Thomson
Sub
Ed Kalman
Sub
Opeta Palepoi
Sub
Calum Forrester
Sub
Colin Gregor
Sub
Chris Kinloch
Sub
Peter Horne
Match Substitutions
Off On
Kelly Brown Calum Forrester
Off On
Steve Swindall Opeta Palepoi
Off On
Dougie Hall Fergus Thomson
Off On
Mark McMillan Colin Gregor
Off On
Moray Low Ed Kalman
Scorers
Dan Parks Penalty
Dan Parks Penalty
Ruaridh Jackson Try 
Dan Parks Conversion
Bernardo Stortoni Try 
Dan Parks Conversion
Dan Parks Penalty
Colin Shaw Try 
Dan Parks Conversion
Comments
Posted by Lancashire Lad on February 21, 2009 05:49 AM | Reply to this comment

Bad luck about the result. The men from Glasgow gave it a good shot. Now that Dan Parks is not in the test side, you fickle Scottish fans have nobody to blame for failure. The new boys on the block haven't faired any better. Parks played his guts out for Scotland for years, and generally was sent to Coventry for doing so. Especially by the media. If he'd been supported by players who don't drop balls, don't give away stupid penalties, didn't get on the wrong side of referees, and who are in the correct field positions, the Scots would have won a lot more games. Most of the time Parks didn't know whether he was coming or going, with the axe hanging over his head constantly, and regularly criticised by unprofessional so-called experts. Who can play well in those cicumstances, and Dan did fairly well considering? He also would have out-pointed national hero, Chris Patterson if he had been given a fair go.

Posted by billyidol on February 21, 2009 06:35 PM | Reply to this comment

Well done you!

Posted by alan on February 22, 2009 09:01 PM | Reply to this comment

Totally agree!

Posted by Miss NZ on February 21, 2009 01:56 PM | Reply to this comment

Don't hold back lad...why don't you give 'em both barrels.

Posted by manattheback on February 21, 2009 03:57 PM | Reply to this comment

Even better idea - why don't you stay in Lancashire and shut up!

Posted by ballinj on February 21, 2009 05:26 PM | Reply to this comment

the lad is entitled to his view whether you like it or not even if he does live in England.

Parks has been unfairly criticised while playing for Scotland, while he has made mistakes and some high profile ones at that, the problems at national level haven't been entirely cause Parks was playing. Lack of momentum through the forwards, unbalanced selection, slow ball, etc, etc.

Posted by osama Bin Hidin on February 22, 2009 08:27 PM | Reply to this comment

My vote - yeah? - replace the Scotland team with the Glasgow team... and replace Frank the Bank with... erm... well... anyone... really..? Ideas anyone?

Posted by The Munchkin on February 23, 2009 03:31 PM | Reply to this comment

Saracens ex Eddie Jones??????

Posted by The Munchkin on February 23, 2009 03:38 PM | Reply to this comment

Eddie Jones, Saracens ex????? Regarding the Glasgow game, first 20 minutes they did not seem to be awake but started to get somethings going. Second half alot better especially Bernie's try, Rhuriah's try was good as well as Parksy penalty kicks. Some of the older players maybe not as strong as they could have been.

Posted by manattheback on February 24, 2009 08:07 AM | Reply to this comment

Eddie Jones is going back to Oz for family reasons - unfortunately!

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