Cardiff Blues began their Guinness PRO 12 campaign with a comprehensive 61-13 win over Zebre
Last Updated: 11/09/15 1:18pm
Rhys Patchell and Josh Turnbull scored a hat-trick apiece as Cardiff Blues began their Guinness PRO 12 campaign with a comprehensive 61-13 win over Zebre at the Arms Park.
Zebre led 6-5 after 35 minutes but the Blues raised their game to crush the Italians. Patchell and Turnbull both scored three tries each while Josh Navidi and Aled Summerhill each crossed twice and Tom James also touched down.
The margin of victory would have been far greater had fly-half Patchell not missed seven from eight conversion attempts. Gareth Davies and Dan Fish each kicked one conversion for the hosts.
Two penalties from Maicol Azzolini and a try and conversion from Ulrich Beyers was Zebre's response.
Despite being without nine of their squad through international call-ups, Zebre dominated the opening 10 minutes, putting the home pack under considerable pressure in the scrum.
Azzolini put Zebre ahead with a straightforward kick and when Blues eventually got out of their own half, Patchell had a penalty opportunity but missed it to leave Zebre 3-0 ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Cardiff increased in confidence as the game progressed and turned down two kickable penalties in favour of more attacking options. They gained their reward with the first try when Navidi crashed over from a line-out 10 metres out.
Patchell was again off target with the conversion before Azzolini put the Italians back in front with his second penalty.
After 35 minutes, Cardiff scored their second try when an excellent pass from Patchell sent Jarrad Hoeta through a large gap in the visitors' defence with James on hand to collect the scoring pass.
A minute later, the hosts were over again when Fish and James made the running to provide Summerhill with an easy try.
The Blues suffered a blow when James limped off with a foot injury but they overcame it to score their bonus point try. Zebre lost No 8 Dries van Schalkwyk to the sin-bin and Blues took full advantage as Navidi forced his way over for his second and a 20-6 half-time lead.
After the restart, Cardiff maintained their momentum with Patchell picking up his side's fifth, which he converted to ironic cheers. Van Schalkwyk returned from the bin but it mattered little as Patchell scored two tries in quick succession to complete his hat-trick.
Replacement Beyers scored a converted try for Zebre before Summerhill and a hat-trick from Turnbull added tries to take Blues to a big win.
