REPORT: Cardiff Blues slip to pre-season defeat

With the home side leading with seconds to go Leicester outside half Joe Ford knocked over a penalty from just inside his own half to steal the win.

But there was plenty to encourage new boss Mulvihill with the Blues’ set piece and their outside backs impressing. The home side scored two tries courtesy of new signing Jason Harries and Wales under 20s star Dane Blacker.

Jordan Olowofela and Tom Smith scored Leicester’s tries with seven points from the boot of Ford. Leicester drew first blood when full back Olowofela ran in unopposed from 30 metres after a gap appeared in the Blues defensive line with Ford adding the extras.

The Tigers dominated the territory and possession in the first quarter of the game but failed to turn their pressure into points. The Blues finally gained some territory and launched a powerful driving lineout from five metres out which was held up by the visiting eight.

But it was Leicester who grabbed the games next score with No 8 Smith powering his way over from short range after a powerful maul. Ford was successful with a touchline conversion to give the visitors a 14-0 lead.

The hosts came close to crossing the whitewash with a scintillating period of play with outside half Steven Shingler putting in a well weighted grubber kick to release right wing Harries. The former Edinburgh wing raced down the touchline before offloading to scrum half Lewis Jones who lost the ball forward with the try line at his mercy.

But following a period of sustained pressure the Blues finally crossed the whitewash. After a series of driving lineouts the ball was spun wide to full back Dan Fish who put Harries over with a cross kick.

Shingler was successful with the conversion meaning the home side turned around 14-7 behind at the interval.
Mulvihill’s side came out of the blocks firing in the second half and we able to apply far more pressure on their visitors.

After being penalised replacement scrum half Blacker caught the Tigers defence napping with a quickly tapped penalty to cross for their second try. Shingler missed the conversion but made amends by putting the Blues into the lead for the first time with a penalty from in front of the sticks.

But just when the hosts thought they had done enough up stepped Ford to knock over a monster penalty at the death.