The artificial pitch at the Cardiff Arms Park was the only thing that allowed this game to go ahead. It was a game that felt like the morning after the night before in more ways than one. Several players that we have come to expect more from simply did not perform, Faletau, Cuthbert and Halfpenny being fairly anonymous in open play although with his boot Halfpenny was typically lethal.
In the shadow of the WRU headquarters, off the pitch the discussion remained firmly on what hadn't happened the night before, with the Welsh regions refusing to sign the participation agreement. The 'protect our game' banner remained on the pitch pre-game as the rain began to fall whilst the two sides warmed up. As the players came out to warm up a sense of panic crept through our position in the press area, as we saw the heads of the Blues players. They have all shaved their heads in support of Matthew Rees who is currently suffering from testicular cancer, this has also helped to raise money for good causes. It was not as the stadium announcer said "Tom Shanklin tribute".
Once the game kicked off the jovial atmosphere which had included both sets of mascots having a race quickly departed. What followed was a scruffy and error strewn affair in dismal conditions in the Welsh capital. The first scrum of the game came immediately from the kick off and that set the tone for the game.
Rhys Patchell put over the first penalty of the game whilst Leigh Halfpenny was receiving treatment. Patchell himself would hop off later after his leg collapsed as he landed causing damage to his left knee. Although coach Phil Davies said that it was a 'shoulder' injury after the game, the way that Patchell hopped off suggested otherwise.
Jason Tovey missed a fairly straight forward kick early on against his former employers. Halfpenny would then add two more penalties to make it 9-0. There was a fightback from the Dragons and as the kick on by Patchell was claimed and man of the match Dan Evans he escaped down the wing, drew Halfpenny in and passed to give Will Harries an easy run in. Just a moment later Tovey's penalty made in 9-10 and gave the Dragons the lead for the first time in the game.
Five minutes into the second half Tovey added another penalty to give the Dragons a four point lead, which left the Blues looking rattled. It was then that the Blues brought on Welsh international Gethin Jenkins and the tide began to turn. The veteran prop helped to give the Blues dominance in the scrum which would prove the decisive factor. The scrum would allow Halfpenny to kick two more penalties and Gareth Davies would kick a drop-goal, to make it 18-13 to the Blues. Halfpenny's last penalty on 78 minutes which sealed the game for the Blues was the fourteenth penalty that the Dragons conceded. A statistic that ultimately lost them the game. The score ended 21-13, the Blues gaining revenge for the defeat on boxing day.
All told the conditions did not make for a good game and the 10,413 at the Arms Park will be hoping that it gets better from here in 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment