Celtic League Cardiff 33 Connachat 17Undercurrents of dissatisfaction still wash around the issue of amalgamation of traditional Welsh clubs into provincial-type teams, but if Cardiff, with their eye-catching zip, are anything on which to judge, the sour notes may soon soften.
Success tends to do that and nobody in the Arms Park, not even Connacht coach Michael Bradley, was hesitant about the breadth of the home win.
That Cardiff, with their 10 capped players, a stronger pack and a well-fed back line, didn't get a bonus point for tries was of some consolation but from the first quarter onwards, Connacht were chasing this one.
"There are 22 games in this league so we'll take the good out of every game we play," said Bradley. "In the first half I think we got caught up in over-mauling the ball and that put us under pressure and they were rewarded.
"Because they're such a good side they made us make the mistakes. I think it's (score) a fair reflection of the game although I'm disappointed we didn't get a point out of it."
Openside John O'Sullivan drew first blood for the visitors, attacking the fringe of a ruck and finding a big hole, nobody even feeling the fabric of his shirt as he pounded in.
Eric Elwood converted for 0-7 but really that was the end of the soft scores. Although Conor McPhilips touched down the first of his two tries for 10-12 on 23 minutes, Cardiff dictated the tempo and shape.
Their best effort came six minutes before half-time, Dean Dewdney attacking a gap at pace, running left to right. A neat scissors move with Jamie Robinson caught the Connacht defence shifting the wrong way for 17-12, demonstrating Cardiff's gloss and their confidence to reproduce training moves in play. Robinson's brother Nick then added two kicks to close the half 23-12.
By then the momentum had entirely swung with Cardiff.Dewdney grabbed his second try for 33-12 shortly before full back Mark McHugh broke from midfield and sent McPhilips scampering over for the final score of the match.
"Cardiff played very well," said Bradley. "They controlled the game, got the ball out of their own half immediately and every time played the patterns they wanted to play." Few could argue
SCORING SEQUENCE 7 mins: J O'Sullivan try, E Elwood con, 0-7; 11 mins: N Robinson pen, 3-7; 14 mins: N McLeod try, N Robinson con, 10-7; 23 mins: C McPhilips try, 10-12; 29 mins: J Robinson try, N Robinson con, 17-12; 31 mins: N Robinson pen, 20-12; 44 mins: N Robinson pen, 23-12. Half-time: 23-12. 50 mins: N Robinson pen, 26-12; 56 mins: D Dewdney try, N Robinson con, 33-12; 57 mins: C McPhilips try, 33-17.
CARDIFF: D von Vuuren; N Walne, J Robinson, N McLeod, D Dewdney; N Robinson, A Moore; K Fourie, A Lewis, B Evans, D McShane, A Moore, R Applyard, D Baugh, J Malpas. Replacements: C Stakamatakis for McShane (76 mins). J Yapp for Fourie (78 mins). R Jones for Baugh (80 mins).
CONNACHT: M McHugh; C McPhilps, D Yapp, T Allnutt, W Munn; E Elwood, C Keane; W O'Kelly, B Jackman, A Clarke, D Browne, A Farley, M Swift, J O'Sullivan, M Lacey. Replacements: D Hewitt for Allnutt (54 mins). F Boiroux for O'Kelly (58 mins). M Carroll for Lacey (62 mins); C O'Loughlin for Keane (64 mins); J Fogarty for Jackman (73 mins); M McCarthy for Swift (79 mins)
Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).
