By Alanquin
February 6 2012

In a match that had little relevance to the competition, since neither side was able to qualify for the semi-finals, Cardiff Blues and Harlequins contrived to produce a feast of running rugby and twelve tries too! In the end Cardiff were the winners by 45 – 40, the difference being the boot of Ben Blair on his reappearance following a long absence for injury.

Facing a team composed of eleven internationals out of the squad of twenty-three, the young Harlequins side, still virtually the A team,, showed that they were not there just to be the Blues’ whipping boys. It took just seven minutes for the visitors to make their intentions clear as, having picked up a ball which squirted out of a ruck, Chris York strolled in under the posts entirely unopposed. Clegg added the extras. Shortly after, a penalty allowed Blair to narrow the lead to 3 – 7.

Now Cardiff began to take the game more seriously as the contact became more physical and their attack began to exhibit their strength and experience. Quins’ defence stood firm. A clearance kick was charged down on the Quins’ try line and only determined cover from Chisholm prevented a Blues score.

Twenty-four minutes had elapsed when Stegmann ripped the ball from a Blues player at a maul and ran clear for the second try.  Clegg converted successfully for a 3 – 14 lead.  But the Cardiff response was immediate as they claimed the restart and attacked vigourously and an excellent inside ball from their fly half, Sweeney, taken at speed saw Tom James cross for the first of his four tries in the match. Blair added the simple conversion.

Cardiff renewed their attacks until, with few minutes of the half remaining, a series of missed tackles allowed their No.8 Hamilton to cross for another try to which Blair added the conversion.  Then James added another typical wingers’ try as he dashed along the right touchline to score in the corner.  Blair’s excellent kick from the touchline ended the half with Cardiff in the lead 24 – 14.

Yet another try from James opened the scoring in the second half after only a few minutes, rapid passing putting the winger through a tight gap in the defence for his hat-trick try. Blair made to mistake in increasing the score to 31- 14.  But Quins produced immediate response with two tries in three minutes. First Peter Browne galloped clear into the Blues’ twenty-two where he was stopped five metres from the line.  A penalty at the ensuing breakdown produced a ruck virtually on the line and Sam Smith darted over round the blind side to score. Then almost immediately from the restart Ross Chisholm produced one of his trademark runs as he ran from inside the Quins half outpacing the defenders to score.  Clegg was successful with two difficult conversions from wide out to reduce the Cardiff lead to just three points. That Cardiff were concerned was evidenced when a penalty just inside the Quins’ half saw Blair attempt at goal rather than kick for position as he had been doing.  The kick fell short.

Then another penalty allowed Blair to kick to an excellent touch to give the Blues an attacking lineout.  A catch and drive from that position proved irresistible and Cook touched down in the ensuing pile-up. Then, only a couple of minutes later, a break through the defence allowed Cardiff to create a three man overlap on the left and there was James to add to his tally.  Blair had added both conversions for a 45 – 28 lead.

But Harlequins were not done yet. With less than five minutes remaining a break and chip ahead by Smith who then gathered and gave the inside pass to Stegmann for him to score the try which Urdapilleta converted.  Almost immediately a break by Browne put Chisholm in for another try.  Clegg’s final unsuccessful kick from the touchline brought a thoroughly enjoyable match to an end.

Cardiff Blues: Ben Blair; Richard Mustoe; Gavin Evans, Gavin Henson; Tom James; Ceri Sweeney, Lewis Jones; John Yapp, T Rhys Thomas (c), Scott Andrews, Cory Hill, Macauley Cook, Maama Molitika, Josh Navidi, Luke Hamilton.

Replacements: Ryan Tyrell for Hamilton (33), Nathan Trevett for Andrews (65), Sam Hobbs for Yapp (65), Paul Tito for Hill (53), Xavier Rush for Navidi (29), Sion Hopkins for L. Jones (71), Gareth Davies for Sweeney (73), Casey Laulala for Henson (60).

Harlequins: Ross Chisholm; Seb Stegmann, George Lowe, Tom Casson, Sam Smith; Rory Clegg, Karl Dickson; Nic Mayhew, Rob Buchanan, Tim Fairbrother, Tomas Vallejos, Pete Browne, Chris York, Will Skinner (capt), Tom Guest.

Replacements: Darryl Marfo for Mayhew (68), Mark Lambert, Will Collier for Fairbrother (55), Charlie Matthews for Skinner (60), Joe Trayfoot for Guest (55), Richard Bolt for Dickson (51), Benjamin Urdapilleta for Lowe (31), Ollie Lindsay-Hague for Casson (60).

Att: 2,093

Referee: James Jones (WRU).