Cardiff 38 - 13 Edinburgh: Burgh lose but live to fight another day

THIS match was before the Lord Mayor’s show for Edinburgh as they made a journey they could have done without and lost a match which meant little, but defeat did not rain on next week’s parade.

It condemned them to finishing second bottom in the RaboDirect Pro 12 but, with a Heineken Cup semi-final against Ulster to come, they will still feel this has been a season of deliverance.

They may have been few and far between, but there were some positives for Edinburgh – particularly the two stand-offs with Phil Godman showing his kicking game is ready if needed next week and Harry Leonard showing his potential for the future with some creative moments.

There was a chance for Chris Paterson to push his claim for a place on the bench against Ulster while, at the other end of the scale, it was an opportunity to give teenagers such as Jamie Farndale a taste of professional rugby.

Captain and No 8 Roddy Grant was involved in much of what was good about Edinburgh’s play, Alan MacDonald was also pushing for a squad place with lock Steve Turnbull completing 80 minutes on his return from injury.

Those were the positives for Edinburgh, but the other biggest plus was that they got through the game unscathed and all their key players were back in Scotland.

Edinburgh’s History Men were a past memory for this match, there were none of the Heineken Cup quarter-final starting line-up in action, although six of the subs from that day in Murrayfield were involved at the Cardiff City Stadium.

In contrast Cardiff Blues were saying goodbye to a host of players who are shortly to be history at the club, with no fewer than 12 players departing, including Wales internationals John Yapp and Richie Rees who will be joining Edinburgh next season.

It has been a disappointing few months for the Blues and, oddly, Edinburgh have been their nemesis – that Heineken Cup final pool stage weekend when the Scots secured the bonus point win that meant they topped the group and earned the home quarter-final against Toulouse.

The Blues were watched by 3,000 fewer than Edinburgh that day, failed by inches to get the fourth try which would have meant they topped the group instead and they have been pretty much in freefall in terms of results, crowds and player departures ever since.

However it did mean there was a lot more riding on the game for the Blues than Edinburgh – neither side had any remaining issues in the RaboDirect but it was a last home game of the season for the Blues, a chance to say goodbye to all those players, and a need to give the fans some good memories to keep over the summer.

Maybe surprisingly, it was Edinburgh who opened the scoring with a Phil Godman penalty from 45 yards out, but it was the Blues who had more power in the gain-line battle throughout.

Former All Black full-back Ben Blair, one of those leaving for France, made the break that ended with scrum-half Lloyd Williams working his way over the line for the opening try.

Then the heavens opened and it was a wonder either side could play any rugby in the monsoon conditions. Unsurprisingly, it took until just before half-time for the Blues to add another try, this time spreading it wide after stealing an Edinburgh lineout for right wing Alex Cuthbert to go over in the corner.

Godman also opened the scoring in the second half, slotting a drop goal from 40 yards – who knows, that might have been useful practice for next week if he comes on in the dying minutes against Ulster with the match still close. However, when centre John Houston was sin-binned for a high tackle, the Blues sealed the bonus point through tries by Cuthbert and No 8 Luke Hamilton, while Cuthbert added his third try when Edinburgh were back up to 15.

Among the Edinburgh changes was Harry Leonard coming on at stand-off and he showed his potential with a neat try, kicking past the defensive line and diving on the ball for the score.

He nearly created a closing try for wing Sep Visser with another perceptive kick into space, but the bounce went against the frustrated Dutchman.

Leonard certainly showed that he is a talent for the future who is capable of unlocking defences, but there were few opportunities for the likes of Dougie Fife or Jamie Farndale to show their potential.

Edinburgh were relieved to have got this match out of the way, return north and start the real work this week ahead of that climactic clash with Ulster on Saturday.

They will address their RaboDirect form at some stage and look to improve next season but, more immediately, they have much bigger fish to fry.

Cardiff Blues: Tries: L Williams, Cuthbert (3), Hamilton, Navidi. Cons: Blair (4). Edinburgh: Try: Leonard. Con: Leonard. Pen: Godman. Drop: Godman.

Cardiff Blues: B Blair; A Cuthbert, C Laulala, D Hewitt, T James; C Sweeney, L Williams; G Jenkins, M Breeze, S Andrews, B Davies, J Down, M Molitika, M Williams, L Hamilton. Subs: K Dacey for Breeze 63, J Yapp for Jenkins 60, S Hobbs, M Cook for M Williams 70, J Navidi for Hamilton 56, R Rees for L Williams 50, D Parks for Sweeney 50, G Evans for Hewitt 60.

Edinburgh: C Paterson; S Visser, D Fife, J Houston, J Thompson; P Godman, A Black; K Traynor, A Kelly, J Gilding, R McAlpine, S Turnbull, A MacDonald, S Dewar, R Grant (capt). Subs: R Hislop for Traynor 56, A Walker for Kelly 56, L Niven for Gilding 55, M Douglas, H Watson, C Leck for Black 38-40, H Leonard for Godman 56, J Farndale for Paterson 55.