Blues see off Ulster
Debutant James Lofton scored the only try to help an understrength Cardiff Blues record an 11-9 win over Ulster.
Last Updated: 25/04/09 2:38am
Debutant James Lofton scored the only try to help an understrength Cardiff Blues record an 11-9 win over Ulster.
With a Heineken Cup semi-final against Leicester on the horizon, the Blues decided to rest some of their leading lights from Magners League action.
However, they still proved to have too much for their hosts, who are finishing the season with a whimper, rather than a flourish.
It was the Blues who drew first blood after just three minutes, Ceri Sweeney's penalty giving the newly-crowned EDF Energy Cup winners an early lead.
Injury blow
Ulster's plans were dealt a blow when they lost Paddy Wallace after the Ireland international centre was involved in a heavy tackle in midfield.
However, they levelled the scores through Niall O'Connor's drop goal and could have gone ahead had Clinton Schifcofske not pushed his penalty wide.
Shortly before the half hour the Blues found a way to the line, full-back Loxton benefiting from Jamie Robinson's deft chip over the top to touch down.
Sweeney's conversion was off target but he made no mistake with a penalty from bang in front of the posts.
Looking to find a way back into the contest, Ulster started the second half impressively with a long-range drop goal from O'Connor just falling short.
He had the legs with a penalty seven minutes before the hour, though, meaning the home side trailed by just two points.
But any hopes of overhauling their opponents disappeared in the closing stages, the closest they came to scoring again being when O'Connor's chip proved just too long for Simon Danielli.
The only action in the final minutes came from the referee as he sin-binned props Brendon Botha and Rhys Gill.
