Cardiff 34 - 23 Edinburgh: Stroll in the Parks

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 12:54

Dan Parks did his bit to spoil Edinburgh's opening night in the Magners League as Cardiff Blues ran out winners. Parks, who made the switch from Glasgow to Wales at the end of last season, kicked 14 points from six attempts at goal to deny Edinburgh a winning start to the new campaign.

After being justifiably named as the Magners man of the match, Parks said: "It was very tiring because we were running the ball a great deal late on. However, it was an enjoyable start and we are delighted to have kicked off with a win."

Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat said: "We didn't deserve to win the game. We were sloppy and we couldn't build pressure on Cardiff. With ten minutes to go, I thought if we scored it would be interesting, but overall we made too many mistakes.

"We didn't make a big thing about Dan Parks before the game but he will be good for them. He's a player people should respect because he's got better and better."

After an impressive pre-season, the former Selkirk wing Lee Jones was given a first Magners start ahead of Mark Robertson and Andrew Turnbull and there were no real signs of first-night nerves for a player who looks a real find.

For Edinburgh, however, it was a far from sound start, with Cardiff Blues, buoyed by Xavier Rush's decision to spurn a move to Ulster this summer and sign a new deal with the Welsh region, looking particularly polished in the opening quarter.

As the leading scorer in the history of the Magners League with 1,105 points, there was no reason to believe Parks would hang around before opening his account for his new employers. True to form, the Blues' big money capture took just seven minutes before he banged over a penalty to give the home side a deserved lead.

Parks has a reputation as a hoofer rather than a lock-picker, but his new coach, Dai Young, has insisted the Scotland stand-off had not been brought to Wales to kick the leather off the ball. Far from it.

Therefore, it would have brought a smile to the face of the former Wales and Lions prop when Parks glided in and out of a crowded midfield on 15 minutes before slipping a beautifully timed pass to scrum-half Richie Rees, who in turn, combined with Ma'ama Molitika to send in Bradley Davies for a try Parks duly improved.

For Edinburgh, it had been a nightmare start made worse when Chris Paterson sent wide his first penalty attempt of the game. And they could not have been surprised when a wonderful chip, chase and catch from Rush set up Wales wing Tom James for his side's second try after 21 minutes.

But Edinburgh struck back with captain Roddy Grant and fellow flanker Alan Maconald leading the way.Paterson found his range after 26 minutes to claw back three points and with the Blues on the wrong end of two further decisions, the full back, playing his first competitive game since last season's Six Nations, added another six points before the interval. The only down side was that Parks put the Blues 20-9 to the good with his second.

It took the Blues just three minutes to re-assert themselves after the break as former Wales hooker Rhys Thomas burrowed his way through for his side's third try. It came after another significant contribution from Parks. The pivot spurned a kick at goal in favour of a kick to the corner and after the Blues had won possession from the ensuing line out, Thomas was driven over.

Parks made it five successful kicks with the conversion to extend the lead to 27-9 and from that position, there was never any way back.

Edinburgh showed terrific guts and were not to be outdone in a half of several decent opportunities for both sides. Their reward for some honest endeavour and no little adventure came when a slick move down the left flank saw Alex Grove release last season's Magners League young player of the year Tim Visser for a classic try that Paterson converted.

Casey Laulala hammered home the decisive nail with a wonderful try five minutes from time, but at least Edinburgh had the final, albeit not enough for a losing bonus point, when Visser bagged his second late on. Paterson converted to finish with 13 points.

Scorers: Cardiff: Tries: Davies, James, Thomas, Laulala. Cons: Parks (4). Pens: Parks (2). Edinburgh: Tries: Visser (2). Cons: Paterson (2). Pens: Paterson (3).

Cardiff: C Czekaj; R Mustoe, C Laulala, T Shanklin, T James; D Parks, R Rees; G Jenkins, R Thomas, S Andrews, B Davies, P Tito, M Molitika, M Williams, X Rush. Subs: D Jones, S Warburton.

Edinburgh: C Paterson; L Jones, B Cairns, A Grove, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, F McKenzie, S MacLeod, A MacDonald, R Grant (capt), N Talei. Subs: A Kelly, K Traynor, J Gilding, S Newlands, G Laidlaw, D Blair, J Houston

Referee: P Fitzgibbon (Ireland).