Super Blues see off Stade

Cardiff Blues withstood a late onslaught to record a memorable 31-21 Heinken Cup victory over Stade Francais on Saturday.

The Blues produced a performance full of passion, spirit and no little skill to record a win at Cardiff Arms Park that sees them leapfrog their French rivals in Pool 3.

The tone was set by a blistering start that saw Jamie Robinson cross inside ten minutes and further tries Tom James and the outstanding Paul Tito ensured they always held the upper hand.

Stade refused to lie down and were never out of the contest thanks to the boot of David Skrela and tries of their own from Julien Arias and Antoine Burban, but a late drop-goal from Tom Flannagan ensured the Blues emerged victorious.

Cardiff looked to have moved ahead with just 25 seconds on the clock as James powered over out wide after an early charge-down, but the try was disallowed with the referee having spotted an offence.

But the hosts did not have to wait long to get on the board as Flannagan kicked the first of his three penalties on four minutes. The lead was handsomely extended shortly afterwards as the young fly-half produced a wonderful flicked pass inside to the rampaging Gareth Thomas who in turn offloaded to Robinson for a fine try.

By the 22-minute mark Blues had stretched 13-0 clear as Flannagan landed another penalty, but Stade eventually began to get a foothold both in terms of possession and territory.

Brian Liebenberg provided their first real threat after scooping up a loose ball but was hauled down ten metres short of the line. Blues did not heed the warning and having turned the screw through numerous phases near the Cardiff line, Stade finally got the try their efforts deserved when the ball was spun wide to the right creating space for Arias to burst over - Skrela successfully converting.

Individual brilliance

However, James ensured momentum swung straight back in Cardiff's favour with a moment of individual brilliance five minutes into first-half injury-time.

The powerful winger shrugged off a feeble tackle from Skrela on the Stade 22 before going through the gears to outpace two defenders and dive over for a try that Flannagan converted to make the half-time score 20-7.

Skrela landed three penalties within the first 13 minutes of the second-half, but sandwiched between the first two was Cardiff's third try as man-of-the-match Tito kept his side in the ascendency.

The dynamic second row charged down a Skrela kick from hand and was alert and quick enough to win the race for the loose ball which had bobbled invitingly behind the Stade goal-line.

Flannagan was unable to add the extras and Skrela's third penalty reduced the deficit to 25-16. Flannagan did though respond in kind on 55 minutes with his third penalty to give his side renewed breathing space, but Burban set up a grandstand finish as he bulldozed over eight minutes from time.

The young flanker showed both poise and strength to get past Thomas on the touchline and finished well despite the efforts of Jamie Roberts to move Stade to within seven points.

Blues were forced to withstand some late pressure but, having made their way downfield, closed out a famous win when Flannagan dropped from range to the delight of the majority inside Cardiff Arms Park.