Cardiff Blues new boy Gareth Anscombe was watching on at Cardiff Arms Park as his new team took on the Scarlets.
Both the Blues and the Scarlets fielded a young side in the LV Cup derby clash on Friday night at Cardiff Arms Park.
With both teams missing several international players it was up to the youth within the club to show that they are capable of representing the region.
After an early foray of attacks the Scarlets earned an early three points after two minutes through Josh Lewis’ boot. Simon Humberstone levelled proceedings after ten minutes.
In a quiet opening quarter dominated by territory finding kicks, neither side found their momentum.
The Blues were marched back ten metres by the referee to within their own half on 26 minutes. Josh Lewis had the distance but the radar let him down as it drifted wide of the posts.
Tavis Knoyle took a quick tap penalty just before the half hour and earned the extra ten metres with typical scrum-half nous. Simon Humberstone kicked from straight in front to make it 6-3 to the Blues.
Jordan Williams was guilty trying too much on several occasions and could easily have been punished for a loose back of the hand pass which was intercepted in the Scarlets 22 by Dan Fish.
On a cold night in the capital the lineouts were a mess, particularly from the West Walians who didn’t take a ball cleanly in the first half.
A jinking break by Owen Jenkins earned the Blues another penalty at the breakdown; the Scarlets mistakes in this area gifted the Blues easy points. Alongside this, the Scarlets simply did not make the most of their opportunities as they wasted several opportunities to go wide.
However, it was only a three point deficit at half time despite the Scarlets wastefulness. Josh Lewis and Simon Humberstone traded penalties throughout the first half in a very even contest, making in 9-6 at half time.
With several big hits in the first half the Blues had a definite advantage; the Scarlets looked lightweight and on several occasions were driven back in the tackle and struggled to make it across the gain line.
The lack of tries in the first half was not due to the lack of endeavour but a lack of accuracy.
The half opened with a solid scrum from the Scarlets as they dismantled the Blues back and kicked for the corner with the penalty.
A training ground move opening the try scoring. McCusker took the ball off the top of the lineout, Josh Lewis chipped over the advancing line and flanker Sion Bennett fell gratefully on the ball to claim the try. Lewis converted to make the score 9-13 to the Scarlets.
The Scarlets scrum became a potent weapon in the second half and the Blues could not handle the power from the West Walian eight.
The Blues let themselves down with their handling as they butchered several opportunities. In the third quarter they dominated possession but did not have any points to show for their hard work due to their own errors.
Josh Lewis departed shortly before the hour; the young outside half had a very good evening and looks a very exciting prospect.
However, on the hour mark the Blues did score their first try, through Captain Ellis Jenkins. After a driving lineout collapsed inches short, scrum half Rhodri Davies popped the ball to Man of the Match, Jenkins, who dived over in the corner. Simon Humberstone stepped up and nailed a difficult touchline conversion to make it 16-13 to the Blues on the hour mark.
Jordan Williams continued to work hard all evening and almost burrowed over after a penalty quick tap. However, for all his effort, the wing had a difficult evening and he struggled to make a real impact.
With ten minutes left on the clock it was the Blues who had all the momentum and they launched attack after attack in the Scarlets 22. The Blues earned a penalty and Sion Bennett was sent to the sin bin for the final moments. Will Thomas kicked the points on his debut as he made in 19-13.
With 6,284 fans turning out to see the Blues record a win, it was a good night for the Blues both on and off the field.
Gareth Anscombe will have enjoyed seeing the Blues take a win but this was a long way away from a Super Rugby game. He now knows exactly what he has got himself into.
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