PRO14 ACTION Big match report from last night’s clash between Blues and Glasgow
CARDIFF Blues resembled the Keystone Cops with their shambolic defending as they crashed to defeat at Scotstoun Stadium.
Glasgow Warriors crossed the whitewash four times in the opening 37 minutes to claim a bonus point.
But the worst thing about it was the Guinness PRO14 Conference A leaders didn’t even have to work hard for those tries.
The Blues defence – full-back Tom Williams was an exception – was all over the shop and some minds didn’t appear to be on the job.
Perhaps players had spent too much time seeking out Black Friday deals because they certainly didn’t seem focused on attempting to climb up the table from fourth.
What was concerning was the Blues were fielding a decent team with Glasgow being the harder hit by international calls.
Glasgow slackened off after getting the extra point and Blues had more of the match in the second half with hooker Kristian Dacey scoring early in the seond half.
But it was too little, too late as Warriors substitute Rory Hughes snuffed out any fear of a winning fightback by scoring.
Outside-half Jarrod Evans, fresh from making his Wales debut off the bench against Scotland, did score a lovely individual try later but Glasgow responded through an interception from Niko Matawalu.
Evans had put the Blues ahead with a penalty but the lead didn’t last long with Glasgow working the blindside of a ruck with a one-two between flanker Adam Ashe and full-back Ruaridh Jackson for the former to cross unopposed for outside-half Pete Horne to convert.
A few weeks ago Blues’ centre Willis Halaholo was being talked up by some for a Wales cap for his attacking ability when he qualifies on residency but he’s always been wildly inconsistent in defence.
Glasgow scrum-half Ali Price brought Fiji wing Matawalu, who was celebrating his 100th appearance for Glasgow, bursting on to a pass and he breezed inside the out of position Halaholo for the try.
Then the Blues forwards infringed at a line-out in the Glasgow half with most of them turning their backs on the ball. Warriors took a quick tap with centre Stafford McDowall, Grigg and Jackson combining before captain and flanker Callum Gibbins turned up to score.
Glasgow got their hands on the ball again. This time Jackson passed to Seymour and he found Grigg, who again went through at will before putting speedster Seymour over for the bonus point to see off the challenge of the bumbling Blues before half-time.