However, it was the Blues who left with the widest smile of the night after picking up a bonus point in beating the Scarlets 26-5 at Stradey Park.
Having lost 33-5 to the Blues back in September, the Scarlets were once again no match for an experienced side who built on centre Luke Ford’s early try to win at a canter.
The hooker Huw Dowden added a second try five minutes into the second half and after an interception try from outside half Daniel Evans had edged the Scarlets back into the contest at 12-5, the Blues eased to their bonus courtesy of tries from scrum half Luke Evans and No.8 Lewis Mills.
Leigh Halfpenny added three conversions to round off a fine personal display with High Performance Manager Gafyn Cooper delighted with his side’s performance.
“As you can imagine, the conditions were terrible,” he said. “Having said that, we played well and to get a bonus point down here is a real plus.”
In the other game, the Ospreys pipped the luckless Dragons 10-8 at Llandarcy Academy.
Outside half Richard Powell gave the Dragons the lead after 10 minutes with a penalty, but just as they gave up an advantage at the Scarlets six days ago, so they were pegged back once again by the holders.
Daniel Biggar levelled matters with a penalty five minutes later and the outside half then converted a try from the excellent Jonathan Griffiths.
The Dragons, who lost No.8 Daniel Crandon with a suspected leg fracture, hit back with a 75th minute try from Powell, but fullback Jason Tovey was unsuccessful with the touchline conversion and the Ospreys were off the hook.
Dragons Team Manager Colin Brennan said, “We might have finished second once again, but it was another creditable performance which perhaps deserved a little more. Hopefully, before the end of the season we will get a little luck and win a game.”
Tonight it’s the turn of the U16s: the Blues North entertain the Dragons at Sardis Road whilst the Blues South travel to play the Scarlets. On top of that, the Ospreys take on Canada at St Helen’s.
