It was the Wanderers’ first Premiership victory over their neighbours in five attempts but Head Coach Richard Hodges knew a big scalp was on the cards.
He said: “The result comes as no surprise to me because we have been threatening the big clubs for several weeks. We ran Neath very close for 75 minutes and ended up with a draw against Llanelli last week when we could easily have won.”
Luke Ford, son of Cardiff legend Steve, was the hero weighing in with a try which he also converted from the touchline and a 50 metre penalty. There were also notable performances from Wales U19 captain Sam Warburton and returning Blues No.8 Andy Powell, who teamed up to ravage Cardiff at the breakdown and set the platform for the well-deserved triumph.
Neath bounced back from their first defeat of the season last week with a six-try, 41-6 demolition of Llandovery.
Head Coach Rowland Phillips wielded the axe after that Ebbw Vale defeat and only James Merriman and Martin Morgan retained the same shirt from that game. That seemed to do the trick though and it was business as usual for the leaders for whom wing Kevin James scored a brace of tries.
Pontypridd were another team who got their season back on track after a slump in form as they beat Newport 19-3 at Sardis Road. The only try of the game went to exciting young centre Adam Thomas, who went over after half an hour, while the rest of Ponty’s points came from the boot of Blues fly half Dai Flanagan. Newport in turn, could only muster an early dropped goal from centre Nick Wakley.
Ebbw Vale followed up their heroics at the Gnoll last week with another win, this time at home to Bedwas, but were made to fight for the points by their dogged visitors. In the end the Steelmen came through 15-12 thanks to two tries from loaned Dragon’s prop Hugh Gustafson while Stuart Thomas accounted for all Bedwas’s points with four penalties.
Swansea also recorded a home win as they overcame Maesteg 29-13 with winger Nicky Thomas racing in for two second-half tries and 18 year-old Ospreys Academy outside half Dan Biggar kicking 19 points. The teenager controlled proceedings for the All Whites with an assured display of tactical kicking.
Bridgend are still in search of an elusive first victory of the campaign after they were pipped 19-16 by Aberavon at the Brewery Field. The Ravens were cruelly denied a draw when, with the last kick of the match, Gareth David’s penalty rebounded off the cross bar and away to safety to hand the Wizards the points.
Aberavon had outscored their hosts by three tries to one with Liam Gadd, Richard Carter and Steve Davies going over while Bridgend winger Dan Connolly replied for the home side with a wonderful effort.
Llanelli fought back from an 18-9 half time deficit to win 23-18 at Cross Keys. Tries from replacement hooker Craig Hawkins and fullback Andrew Banfield cancelled out first half efforts from Marcus Johnstone, Rhys Peebles and Lee Humphries and capped a fine second-half performance form the Scarlets who move back up to third in the table.
