Blues lock Deiniol Jones opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a rare try and young winger Chris Czekaj – who replaced All Black legend Jonah Lomu in the side – silenced the home crowd with a well-taken try in the corner as the game entered its second quarter. Centre Jamie Robinson found himself in acres of space and hurled out a pinpoint pass to give the teenaged Wales cap a simple run-in.
Phillips’s high shot on Wales team-mate Jonathan Thomas earned him a 10-minute rest, but the Blues took a well-deserved 14-6 lead into the break.
The Blues’ Nicky Robinson and former All Black fullback Adrian Cashmore traded penalty goals early in the second half, and Ospreys winger Richard Mustoe was yellow-carded for taking opposite number Craig Morgan out without the ball. Morgan had the last laugh with his side’s third try as Ospreys fans began leaving the stadium.
Ospreys: Pens – S Connor 2, A Cashmore.
Blues: Tries – D Jones, C Czekaj, C Morgan; Pens – N Robinson 3; Cons – N Robinson 2
Halftime: Cardiff Blues 14-6
Yellow cards: M Phillips (Cardiff Blues), R Mustoe (Ospreys)
Referee: Phil Fear (Wales)