Guinness Pro 12: Josh Navidi helps Cardiff Blues beat Scarlets
Last Updated: 21/12/14 4:57pm
Josh Navidi helped Cardiff Blues draw first blood in the festive Welsh derby season after a 21-9 defeat of rivals Scarlets.
No 8 Navidi continued a rich vein of individual form with two tries inside the opening half hour as the hosts quickly built a 21-6 lead at the Arms Park.
The Scarlets were much improved after the break but, ultimately, the points which came from the boot of Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland were not enough to deny the hosts a third Guinness Pro12 victory of the season.
The home team totally dominated the opening quarter and their superiority was rewarded as they constructed a 13-0 lead.
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe opened the scoring via an upright after the Scarlets scrum was penalised and he doubled their lead when visiting centre Regan King was deemed guilty of a high tackle.
The Blues went further ahead with the opening try of the night on 18 minutes after Anscombe's pinpoint touchfinder forced an error from the visitors.
Back-row forward Navidi picked up from a turning five-metre scrum and showed huge strength and determination as he fought hard to reach the line and get the ball down, shaking off three would-be tacklers.
The Scarlets had hardly had a sniff up to that point, but finally managed to get some possession and territory which enabled Priestland to land a couple of penalties in reply.
It was a brief respite for them however as the Blues reasserted control with the excellent Navidi claiming his second try, showing great resolve again to get over the whitewash, peeling away from a rolling maul and driving low for the line amid the feet of four defenders.
Anscombe was wide with the conversion attempt, but made no mistake with an angled penalty to give his team a well-deserved 21-6 interval lead after an opening half where they had 65 per cent possession.
Tempers spilled over early after the resumption when opposing second rows Filo Paulo and Johan Snyman exchanged blows off the ball, earning both of them 10 minutes in the sin bin.
The Scarlets made a better start to the second half, securing a third Priestland penalty and coming tantalisingly close to their first try when Rawlins spilled the ball with the line beckoning.
Another opportunity slipped away for them when replacement scrum-half Rhodri Williams was unable to hold on to a pass after a fine looping run from Priestland, with a third chance going begging following a Scott Williams break due to lack of outside support.
The visitors could not even capitalise and snatch a losing bonus point when Navidi was yellow carded late on for a tip tackle as the Blues hung on for back-to-back domestic wins.
