Five-try Cardiff Blues demolish Ospreys in PRO12 Judgement Day battle
Saturday 15 April 2017 18:04, UK
Cardiff Blues ran riot to score five tries in a 35-17 demolition of the Ospreys at the Principality Stadium
Danny Wilson's side derailed Ospreys' title challenge with first-half tries from Kristian Dacey, Lloyd Williams and Nick Williams.
The damage was completed when prop Taufa'ao Filise crashed over and Gareth Anscombe got in on the act, before Dan Evans and Paul James crossed in the final 20 minutes to spark a late revival.
The Ospreys now have to win their two remaining games against Ulster and Scarlets to ensure they finish in the top-four.
The Blues, who are chasing a European Champions Cup play-off spot, were in front after eight minutes after the Ospreys' defence looked to have dealt with a promising rolling maul, but hooker Dacey peeled off at the back and snuck in at the corner.
Anscombe's touchline conversion kissed the post and dropped wide, but touch judges Sean Gallagher and Gwyn Morris ruled it went over to give the Blues a 7-0 lead.
Sam Davies got the Ospreys on the scoreboard with a penalty, but they were further behind after 20 minutes.
Wilson's side got straight back down into Ospreys territory and went close through Rey Lee-Lo before scrum-half Williams spotted an inch of space and dotted the ball down on the line.
Anscombe kicked this conversion straight between the uprights, and he was teeing up another conversion seven minutes later when Nick Williams used brute force to barge his way over from close range.
Anscombe made it three kicks from three to make it 21-3 before Alex Cuthbert was sin-binned for taking Evans out in the air, but they failed to make their man advantage count before half-time.
It was to get even better for the capital region when tighthead Filise, who turns 40 next month, powered over the line for the bonus-point try - his first since 2011.
Kiwi outside-half Anscombe added the extras once again, before getting in on the try-scoring action.
He beat Wales No.10 rival Sam Davies to a Willis Halaholo kick to collect the ball and dive over, before converting to take the Blues 32 points clear.
Ospreys finally scored a try of their own through Evans after 62 minutes and James continued the revival when he powered over five minutes later, but it was too little, too late.
