Blues survive scare to get the job done in Calvisano
JOHN Mulvihill admitted his heart was in his mouth when Calvisano got back to within a point in the second half, but always knew the quality of his Cardiff Blues team would shine in the end against the Italian semi-pros.
When the two teams last met the Blues had run in 11 tries in a 74-6 annihilation of the best club side in Italy.
That was at the Arms Park, but there was no tryfest three years on at the Pata Stadium as the Blues made it seven wins in a row in the Challenge Cup following their triumph in the 2017-18 tournament.
“At 17-16 we knew we had to win the next critical moment in play and thankfully we did. The heart was racing there for a bit, but our quality eventually came through,” said Mulvihill.
“We weren’t good in periods in the first half and probably didn’t show them enough respect.
“We tried to use the ball a bit too much, but we gained control at half-time and then finished off well with three tries in the last 15 minutes – that’s when you saw the Blues’ DNA come out.
“It’s the first time we’ve won in Italy in 18 months, so to take five points back with us on the plane is really fantastic.”
The Blues tried to play with as much tempo as possible from the start and scrum-half Lewis Jones caught the home defence napping with a quick tap and go from a free kick at a scrum.
Two phases later, they won a penalty that was kicked into the corner.
It was too good an opportunity to miss and Matthew Morgan opened the scoring with a try as he latched onto a chip ahead by Jarrod Evans, beat the final defender and crossed at the posts.
Evans added the extras and then kicked a penalty to stretch the lead to 10 points.
Calvisano grew in confidence and opened their account with a Paolo Pescetto penalty before rocking the visitors with a well-worked try.
International No 8 Samu Vunisa initiated the score with a brilliant offload in the tackle that opened the way for centre Giacomo De Santis to cross.
Pescetto’s conversion levelled things up at 10-10. A turnover from European debutant Jim Botham then enbaled the Blues to kick for the corner and the move ended with No 8 Seb Davies galloping over in the wide channels for a try that Evans again converted.
Another penalty from Pescetto after 54 minutes cut the gap to four points and the home fly-half made it a one-point game with another with 15 minutes left on the clock.
Now it was squeaky-bum time for Mulvihill and the Blues fans, but that proved to be as good as it got for the gallant home side.
Evans pushed the Blues into the right areas and a hat-trick of tries from Botham, Rey Lee-Lo and Harri Millard, all of which Evans converted, saved the blushes of the two-time Challenge Cup champions and sent them home with the five points.