Summerhill hat-trick can’t save the Blues
GLASGOW won a ten try thriller to put a big dent in Blues’ hopes of qualifying for next season’s European Champions Cup.
It was an enthralling contest as both sides attacked at every opportunity with Blues coming back from a deficit of 24-7 to trail by only two points before two tries in quick succession proved just enough for the Scots to come away with five valuable points.
Aled Summerhill’s hattrick was his first for the region to secure two bonus points but it was Blues’ fourth defeat at the hands of Glasgow this season.
Summerhill said: “I’m really disappointed as I’d rather win that have a hattrick but we weren’t good enough as they were too clinical for us.”
Both sides possessed huge attacking talents with Nick Grigg, Ali Price and Peter Horne the leading lights for Glasgow and Jarrod Evans and Matthew Morgan, the undoubted stars for the hosts.
Some of their play was breathtaking but three missed kicks from Evans ultimately proved the difference as Horne failed with only one.
The entertainment began as early as the third minute with a splendid opener from Blues. Evans and Ray Lee-Lo made key contributions to a flowing move which culminated in Summerhill winning the race to collect a well-judged kick from Harri Millard.
Horne kicked a penalty before his side scored three converted tries in 14 minutes after first missing a golden opportunity.
Grigg made a superb break before feeding Stafford McDowall, but the centre’s pass was knocked on by debutant Kyle Steyn with the line at his mercy.
However Glasgow weren’t to be denied as first Ruaridh Jackson broke away to provide an easy run-in for Grigg before Horne split the defence for Price to score.
Blues were being run ragged and it came as no surprise when they conceded a third. They were turned over 30 metres out and a neat round of passing ended with Steyn sending Horne over.
Cardiff badly needed a response to remain in contention and they got one as creative running from Morgan gave Summerhill a second for Blues to trail 24-14 at the end of a nonstop first half.
After the restart, Blues maintained the momen- tum when a pass from Evans gave Owen Lane the chance to power down the right hand touchline and score.
Horne hit a post with a penalty but Evans was on target before Glasgow collected a bonus point with
their fourth try when Nick Frisby rewarded a sustained period of pressure by crashing over from close range.
Within a minute, the Scots were over again when replacement David Tameilau burst away to score before Summerhill and Garyn Smith scored late tries to give the visitors a nervous last two minutes.
Glasgow’s head coach, Dave Rennie said: “It was a hell of a spectacle as we generated a lot of quick ball but after getting off to a flyer, we tackled poorly at times to let them back in.”
Blues’ head coach, John Mulvihill said: “We were own our worst enemy as we let them off the hook after we had worked hard to get back into it.”