Guinness PRO14: Wins for Cardiff Blues and Edinburgh Rugby
Friday 16 March 2018 23:51, UK
Cardiff Blues and Edinburgh Rugby secured victories on Friday night in the Guinness PRO14.
Cardiff Blues 31-25 Benetton Rugby
Cardiff Blues made it four PRO14 wins in succession as battling Benetton Rugby were defeated at the Arms Park.
Blues' bonus point win reduces the gap between them and third-placed Toyota Cheetahs to five points with five matches remaining as the two sides battle it out for a play-off spot in Conference A.
The two teams meet in South Africa on 7th April with that fixture likely to prove crucial in determining the outcome.
After a slow start, Danny Wilson's men scored four tries through Owen Lane, Ellis Jenkins, Nick Williams and Olly Robinson with Jarrod Evans converting all four and kicking a penalty.
Giorgio Bronzini, Tomas Baravalle and Monty Ioane scored Treviso's tries with Marty Banks kicking two penalties and a conversion. Ian McKinley added a conversion.
Edinburgh 12-6 Munster Rugby
Duhan van der Merwe crossed twice as Edinburgh saw off Munster on their return to Murrayfield.
In an otherwise scrappy encounter, the winger was on hand to finish off two good moves to pick up four valuable points for Richard Cockerill's side.
Despite being strengthened by some of their returning Scotland internationals, Edinburgh were far from at their best, but still did enough to pick up a win that gives them breathing space from fourth-placed Ulster.
The home team thought that they had opened their scoring inside the first five minutes.
However Viliame Mata's effort was chalked off following a lengthy TMO review and then JJ Hanrahan's penalty gave Munster a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The scoring would stall until five minutes before the break when Dougie Fife's incisive break cut upon Munster's defensive line and with Van der Merwe in support to score the first try of the encounter.
After Edinburgh held a narrow 5-3 lead at the interval Hanrahan's boot put the visitors back in front after 49 minutes.
Edinburgh managed a yellow card period - Jason Harries was sent to the bin a dangerous tackle - without conceding further points.
After another try was chalked off the deciding score was delivered through man-of-the-match Van der Merwe.
