Cardiff Blues 5-21 Glasgow Warriors : Warriors on the way

Published on Saturday 3 October 2009 22:36

SCOTTISH rugby's Marmite man helped to steer Glasgow to this stunning victory based on strong defence and opportunism, along with the shrewd kicking of Dan Parks and pace of Thom Evans.

Parks is either liked or loathed by many fans, but as the rain came down at the Cardiff City Stadium he becomes the sort of player you want on your side, especially with such a heroic defensive effort going on all around him.

Glasgow overcame the late withdrawal of scrum-half Chris Cusiter caused by the flu epidemic which has hit the squad, with the back row and midfield tackling snuffing out the home side's heart and soul with their powerful hitting.

The kicking game of Dan Parks was always going to be more and more important in the wet; he must look forward to the sort of weather the rest of us moan about because it plays so much to his strengths.

With the Scottish scrum going well, they scored one try in each half – both thanks to the pace of wing Thom Evans on the chase as he scored the first and set up the second by getting to the kick first.

"It was a great win, credit to Dan and it was also Thom's best game for us this season by a mile," said a delighted captain, Ally Kellock, afterwards.

"Dan can control a game well – we want to play expansive rugby but in the conditions we needed to get in the corners while our lineout and scrum were going really well.

"Thom also caused panic for them which really lifts the rest of our team when we see him chasing a kick."

Glasgow built their lead steadily from the start through two Parks penalties, but then had a perfectly timed strike just before half-time.

As the ball came back from a ruck in front of the posts, Parks went right and then chipped the kick back to the left where wing Evans got to the ball first, controlled his kick well over the try line and then the score was never in doubt.

When Glasgow stretched their lead with another Parks penalty early in the second half it could have been so much better after a turnover in their own 22.

There was not that much cover for Scotland paceman Evans. However, he did not do enough to check the cover of Cardiff centre Gavin Evans who was able to use the angle to cut him off, before the inside pass went to Colin Gregor and Parks, who was caught by the defence.

Glasgow's confidence began to grow with their forwards consistently making it over the gain line and blindside Richie Vernon proving particularly effective. However his failure to finish off a fine break by giving a scoring pass to centre Dave McCall meant another chance was missed.

Regardless, Glasgow's night just got better and better as the second half wore on. The Blues had all the pressure but still could not find a way through the committed Glasgow defence.

A turnover from a Blues knock-on gave Glasgow the chance to hack forward. Twice Evans had been denied chasing such a kick by the covering of home hooker Gareth Williams – this time Evans just got a boot to the ball first.

The wing had been held up by the collision but was able to pop the ball up to the supporting No.8 Johnnie Beattie who went 50 yards to score under the posts. Parks added the conversion to seal a stunning victory.

The Blues did break their duck with a try for flanker Sam Warburton from close range near the end, but by then Glasgow had long been able to relax in the knowledge of a job well done. A late sin-binning for replacement Calum Forester changed nothing.

Cardiff Blues: L Halfpenny; R Mustoe, T Shanklin, G Evans, G Thomas; C Sweeney, G Cooper; J Yapp, G Williams, G Powell, D Jones, P Tito (Capt), S Warburton, R Sowden-Taylor, A Powell. Subs: D Morris (Powell 67), R Williams (G Williams 77), B Davies (Jones 54), S Morgan (Tito 73), D Allinson, D Flanagan (Mustoe 73), C Czekaj (G Evans 70).

Glasgow Warriors: B Stortoni; R Dewey, D McCall, G Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, C Gregor; J Welsh, D Hall, M Low, T Barker, A Kellock (Capt), R Vernon, J Barclay, J Beattie. Subs: P MacArthur, K Tkachuk (Welch 53), D Turner (Barker 53), C Forester (Beattie 71), P Horne (Morrison 87), H O'Hare (Dewey 73), DTH van der Merwe (T Evans 75).

Scorers Cardiff: Try - Warburton. Glasgow Warriors: Tries – T Evans, Beattie. Con – Parks. Pens – Parks (3)

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)