Blues have real six appeal after gutsy Pro12 win over Edinburgh

jinked his way past the chasers and into the home half before expertly working a scissors with Jack Conan for the No.8 to canter over.

Outside-half Ross Byrne converted that and Conan’s second try, which came 13 minutes later, to extend their advantage to 11 points.

Dragons butchered two chances at the other end.

Full-back Carl Meyer and centres Tyler Morgan and Jack Dixon linked but a huge overlap on the other wing was wasted.

It was business as usual at the start of the second-half with scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park going over for Leinster.

Dragons needed some inspiration from somewhere and young flanker Ollie Griffiths provided it with a pile-driving burst to create a try for right-wing Adam Hughes.

But Leinster regained the initiative thereafter with a bonus point and another five tries.

Richardt Strauss, James Tracy, Hayden Triggs and Luke McGrath (twice) all went over. CARDIFF Blues came from behind at Myreside to claim a gutsy victory which keeps alive their hopes of an allimportant top six finish in the Guinness Pro12.

Things were looking pretty grim as Danny Wilson’s men trailed 17-6 going into the final quarter with Edinburgh having the strong elements with them.

But despite having the gale and driving wind blowing into their faces, the visitors showed both resolve and endeavour to take the lead with tries from Sion Bennett and Lloyd Williams.

And then they really dug deep with some heroic defence to hold on in the SCOTLAND claimed their first Women’s Six Nations victory since the 2010 season as they recovered from two tries down to defeat visitors Wales.

Carys Phillips’ score was followed by a penalty try for the visitors, with Elinor Snowsill converting both.

The Scots responded with Lisa Thomson’s converted try, and Rhona Lloyd crossing after the break.

Lana Skeldon missed the conversion for Lloyd’s try, but Sarah Law’s late penalty gave the Scots victory.

It was a second straight defeat for the Welsh, who took a losing bonus point, and both sides move to five points after three matches.

Scotland lost out narrowly to Ireland face of a prolonged final play onslaught from the hosts.

It’s a win that keeps them in the hunt for the top six finish which would guarantee them Champions Cup rugby next season, with a big game to come against Munster at the Arms Park next Saturday.

Wales wing Alex Cuthbert showed up well again, as did lock Jarrad Hoeata, try scoring flanker Bennett and his back row partner Nick Williams.

The Blues had the wind behind them in the first half, but were to trail 7-6 at the break, with the sin-binning of Anton Peikrishvili and Hoeata not helping their cause.

Georgian prop Peikrishvili was yellow carded for coming in at the side of a maul just ahead of Edinburgh scoring the opening try of the game through hooker Neil Cochrane via another lineout maul drive.

Two penalties from Steve Shingler cut the deficit to a point at the interval, but a brace of tries from wing Rory Scholes in the third quarter seemed to have put the hosts in firm command. Then came the fightback. On 61 minutes, flanker Bennett - a recent recruit from Northampton crossed for the second match in a row to make it game on again.

Hoeta made the key burst up into the 22 after taking an offload from Lloyd Williams following patient in the opening match of this year’s tournament. An early Law penalty was wide before Wales got their two tries.

The first came off a driving maul, with Phillips touching down, before the Welsh forced their penalty try from a scrum.

Scotland captain Lisa Martin was stopped short of the line as the visitors came under pressure towards the end of the first half.

But the home side were rewarded for their endeavours when Law offloaded for Thomson to cross and Law converted.