Warning after Quins provide a scare for title hopefuls

CARDIFF skipper Joey Tomlinson has warned his players they can’t keep falling behind at the start of matches as the title race builds to a crescendo this season.

For the second game in a row the Blue and Blacks found themselves chasing the game after a poor start, yet still battled back to capture a vital bonus point at the death.

It took a penalty try in the fourth minute of injury time to earn them the full five points and move into second place in the table.

“It was the second game in a row we’ve gone behind by 10 points or more at the start,” said Tomlinson.

“But there is good confidence in the group and even if we do go behind we stick in the game.

“But we can’t afford for that to happen again.

“If we want to stay in the fight we need to keep on picking up bonus points.

“A win is a win and we will take the bonus point.

“It wasn’t the perfect performance or a spectacle, but bonus points mean everything in this league.

“If you want to win the title, four points aren’t enough in games and the full five are crucial.”

The Quins were good value for their early lead. Aled Thomas opened the scoring with a penalty, converted a superb score from Steff Marshall and then added a second penalty.

Two Gareth Thompson penalties steadied the Cardiff ship and then he made a scintillating break from a scrum near halfway before sending Tom Williams on a clear run to the posts. Thompson added the extras and then brought the first half to an end with a second penalty to edge his side ahead.

Thompson and Thomas exchanged penalties early in the second half, but then the Quins lost flanker Ed Siggery to a harsh yellow card. Two minutes later Cardiff No 8 Morgan Allen powered over from close range.

The Quins remain ninth in the table.