Guinness PRO12: Llanelli Scarlets 22-28 Cardiff Blues
Last Updated: 03/04/16 4:54pm
Cardiff Blues kept their top six hopes alive with a 28-22 victory at Scarlets in the Guinness PRO12 on Saturday.
First-half tries from Liam Williams and Tom James put the Blues in the driving seat, Scarlets responding through three Dan Jones penalties before Gareth Anscombe crossed in the 61st minute to seal the away victory.
Scarlets were handed a lifeline when John Barclay crossed from short range with ten minutes remaining but it was too little too late for the men from Llanelli.
The Blues responded well to the challenge of their must-win game as they look to keep the play-offs in their sights, playing the game at a rapid speed, looking to attack at every available opportunity, while their defence stifled the opposition.
However, their indiscipline kept their opponents in the game throughout, allowing Jones and replacement Aled Thomas to boot five penalties between them.
The Scarlets were unable to back up their 25-16 victory over the Ospreys last weekend, in a game in which the Blues' creative play stole the show.
Cardiff showed enterprise from the off, Rhys Patchell at the heart of a great attacking move that saw Anscombe go close.
Williams crossed for the Blues' first try on nine minutes, just moments after Anscombe had opened the scoring with a penalty in front of the posts.
After a series of attacking phases from the Blues, the scrum-half exploited a gap in between two forwards in the Scarlets defence, running through to the line unopposed, the conversion taking the score to 10-0 after just 11 minutes.
Two penalties from the boot of Jones reduced the deficit in an attack-filled opening quarter littered with mistakes.
Cardiff's attack-minded approach caused splinters in the Scarlets defence with their second try coming in the 25th minute after a series of line breaks from the Blues, winger James finishing off a well-worked team try in the corner.
Cardiff's indiscipline at the scrum kept their opponents in the game, Jones kicking his third penalty before Anscombe replied with three points of his own, giving the Blues a nine-point lead at the break.
Fly-halves Jones and Anscombe traded penalties in a scrappy start to the second forty before replacement Thomas slotted a further three for the Scarlets, cutting the deficit to 21-15 with just over 20 minutes remaining.
With just over 60 minutes played, Cardiff crossed for the match-winning try when Anscombe dummied his way over the whitewash following a Sam Warburton charge-down in midfield.
The Scarlets refused to give up however and hit back on the 70th minute, Barclay crashing over from short range after the pack turned the ball over at a five metre scrum.
The Blues' indiscipline cost them further with six minutes remaining when Josh Turnball was shown yellow.
The Scarlets looked to capitalise on their man advantage and threw everything at their opponents in the closing moments, but the visitors clung on for the victory.
