Quins crushed on Cup return
Cardiff Blues got their Heineken Cup campaign off to a flying start with a 20-6 victory over Harlequins at Cardiff City Stadium.
Last Updated: 10/10/09 7:27pm
Cardiff Blues got their Heineken Cup Pool Five campaign off to a flying start with a 20-6 victory over Harlequins at Cardiff City Stadium.
Tries from Tom James and Leigh Halfpenny at either end of the second-half sealed victory for Dai Young's side, after Quins failed to capitalise on their territorial advantage.
Cardiff spent only seven percent of the second period in the final quarter of the field as Quins camped out on Blues' try-line, but the burly Welsh pack held firm before Halfpenny won a dash to the other end to clinch the points.
It was clear from the early exchanges that the battle between the packs would be key to the outcome - Ben Blair and Nick Evans exchanging early penalties following collapsed scrums.
Cardiff looked the more sprightly with ball in hand and when Quins were penalised for not releasing a player on the ground, Blair kicked his side into an 18th minute lead.
Rare move
Evans had a chance to level the scores two minutes later, but nudged his 35-metre effort to the right of the posts.
Blues had a rare passing move going before Gareth Thomas' run down the right flank came to an abrupt end, seizing up in some discomfort and quickly replaced by Halfpenny.
Blair stepped through the middle after a quick throw was taken but the run came to nothing, and it was Quins who ended a tightly-fought yet dour half the stronger with good work from Tom Guest, Lewis Stevenson and Chris Robshaw in particular.
The normally accurate Evans had another good opportunity to bring his side level but once again pushed his penalty attempt to the right, as the period petered out following prolonged treatment to Blues skipper Paul Tito, after a clash of heads with Gonzalo Tiesi.
The players emerged for the second-half to a pitch bathed in sunshine and the hosts were suddenly lifted by the occasion, Halfpenny's huge penalty attempt ultimately setting up the game's first try.
Opened up
The British and Irish Lion saw his 60m effort rebound off the post, but from Quins' clearance the defence was caught cold as James finished off a fine move that saw Sam Norton-Knight, Andy Powell, Tom Shanklin and Jamie Roberts all play a part.
Blair added the extras and suddenly the game opened up as the visitors looked to match a higher tempo set by Cardiff.
Blair had the chance to extend the lead but saw his penalty come back off an upright, but Brown's break down the left was the start of a sustained spell of pressure that saw Quins go close on three occasions.
They turned down an easy three points to go for the corner but the move came to nothing thanks to a knock on, although on 63 minutes Evans did opt to kick and duly got his side within seven points at 13-6.
They appeared certain to cross in the 70th minute but Brown fumbled with the line in sight and a man on the overlap, and Quins saw another chance go begging five minutes later when they were penalised for not releasing the ball under the posts.
But with two minutes remaining and with Cardiff still on the back foot, a well-placed kick through from substitute Gareth Cooper saw Halfpenny beat the luckless Brown to the ball and touch down, with Blair adding the extras.
So Harlequins' controversial return to European action following last season's 'bloodgate' scandal came to nothing, and on this evidence they have plenty to do to advance from Pool Five.
