Gloucester
Glaws on back foot after Cardiff HC defeat
Iain Balshaw scores
By Cherry Picker
October 19 2008
The fact that it’s being called the best Heineken Cup-tie of the season so far will be of little consolation to Gloucester after their 37-24 defeat against Cardiff Blues at the Millennium Stadium. Home advantage no doubt helped the Blues, but Glaws were beaten because they made some daft mistakes, couldn’t quite match Cardiff’s try-scoring and gave away too many penalties in kickable positions.
They need to reverse the result when the return fixture is played at Kingsholm in January next year.
SURROUNDED - JSD covered by Cardiff.
There were opportunities to win the game and times when Cardiff looked distinctly shaken, especially up front, where Glaws dominated for most of the game.
But Glaws didn’t quite have what was needed to drive home their advantage, and paid the price in the end for some loose defending. Cardiff got five points out of the game and now dominate the group.
Olly Morgan and Iain Balshaw with two scored the Glaws tries, Olly Barkley converting all three and kicking a penalty.
Cardiff in return scored four tries, all converted, and added four penalties.
Glaws coach Dean Ryan told the BBC: “It will be a big task now to reach the quarter-finals. This has put us on the back foot, and we will have to do something special at Kingsholm.
"I am disappointed we didn't win the game. I thought we had a lot of control, and I thought we looked very threatening.
"But the injuries were very disruptive, especially losing Ryan and Olly either side of half time.
"I think it meant about five players changing positions, and we never looked the same back-line after the injuries.
"We are two games into the tournament, and Cardiff have still got to come to Kingsholm and play Biarritz back-to-back in December."
Glaws, meanwhile, are back in Wales next weekend, againt Newport Gwent Dragons in the EDF Trophy.
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In what way? The Blues have won with BPs in both games and scored lots of tries?
Yesterday was a great match to watch from a neutral point of view. Both teams looked dangerous in open play and the tries were great. More of the same please.
Quote:Hard luck chaps, better luck next time.cheerycherry
I still cant believe Glaws lost that game, Cardiff are a limited side but credit to them they scrap for everything and played a highly inconsistent ref better than Glaws did. DR made a crucial error in not bringing on Walker to replace Lamb when there was only a few minutes to go in the first half and the disruption of reorganising the 3/4s plus Barkleys needless flick pass cost Glaws 14 points and probably the game. Glaws looked dangerous with ball in hand yet we were in trouble whenever we booted possession away so why the instruction to keep possession didnt go out absolutely baffles me. An opportunity missed, especially not getting a losing bonus point, but I didnt see anything that makes me feel the roles cant be reversed at Kingsholm.
I see the result at your place as a Glaws 4 point win with a losing bonus point for the Blues, but lots can happen between now and then.
Right result in the end on Sunday, the Blues were superior.
Maybe your team 'bottled' the big occasion again
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Cymru am Byth...
Quote:cheerycherry
I still cant believe Glaws lost that game, Cardiff are a limited side but credit to them they scrap for everything and played a highly inconsistent ref better than Glaws did
Cardiff Blues (Cardiff play in the Welsh Premiership) are a limited side in what sense?
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Cymru am Byth...
The Blues scrum was pants on Sunday but I think it was more to do with size of the Gloucester 8. They were much bigger from 1 to 8. Not that it made much difference in the end. I expected more from Gloucester to be honest.
