Blair's boot boosts Blues

Cardiff Blues remain on course to qualify from Pool Six of the Heineken Cup after a battling 21-17 victory over Biarritz.

Ben Blair booted 15 points while Nicky Robinson sent over two drop goals as the Magners League outfit recorded a third straight success in Europe.

While a home win was no surprise in the Welsh capital, few would have thought the struggling visitors would run them so close at the Arms Park.

The French outfit scored the only two tries of the contest but paid the price for their poor discipline, meaning they headed home with just a losing bonus point for their substantial efforts.

Traille try

They had been in front 10-9 at the break thanks mainly to Damien Traille's try which came about from some careless Cardiff handling inside their own half.

The centre had the presence of mind not to plant the ball down as he dived over on the left, instead getting up to run the ball closer in, although he did get a late whack from hooker Gareth Williams for his smart thinking.

Julien Peyrelongue landed the easier conversion and also kicked a penalty in the opening half before going over for a score himself in the second.

The fly-half added the extras from his own try but was denied a further three points after the television official ruled a drop goal attempt had been off target, though the replays suggested the ball had just crept over.

However, the official's decision did not prove costly in the end due to Blair's brilliant kicking display.

Desperate tackle

The former New Zealand international kept his team, who were also indebted to a superb tackle from Leigh Halfpenny for saving them on their own line on the half hour, in touch in the first half with penalties from either side of the field.

A third successful effort from his trusty right boot just two minutes after the interval put Cardiff ahead for the first time on the night.

When Robinson landed his second drop goal shortly after, following up his effort in the dying seconds of the first 40 minutes, the score was 15-10 to Cardiff.

Despite having lost four in a row, including being hammered at home by Stade Francais last time out, Biarritz battled on bravely and regained the lead.

Peyrelongue's try-scoring run right down the middle raised their hopes of an unlikely result but Blair quickly dashed them with two more precise penalties.

The Blues could even afford to lose flanker Maama Molitika to a yellow card for punching in the closing stages, the 14 men standing firm to set them up nicely ahead of the return fixture in France.