Electric start secures Blues Champions Cup spot

CARDIFF Blues sealed their place in next season’s Champions Cup by thrashing a woeful Southern Kings outfit 45-12.

It was one-way traffic in Port Elizabeth, with Danny Wilson’s men scoring five first-half tries through Alex Cuthbert, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull, Willis Halaholo and Kirby Myhill.

Blaine Scully and Myhill’s second completed the Blues scoring after the break and Ntabeni Dukisa and Lindokuhle Welemu crossed for the Kings as the Blues warmed up for Saturday’s Challenge Cup home semi-final with Pau in ideal fashion.

Blues made an electric start and were 14-0 up inside the first 10 minutes as they laid the platform for what was a perfect first period in which they took total control to seal the bonus point.

The excellent Nick Williams was at the heart of everything and his powerful carry set up Cuthbert to dive over.

Davies added the Blues’ second try five minutes later with Cuthbert this time involved in the buildup and Turnbull made it three from close range before the half hour mark.

Halaho then crossed for the crucial fourth try after a pass from No.9 Tomos Williams, and with Kings loosehead prop Schalk Ferreira yellow carded for collapsing a driving maul, Myhill emerged with the ballfrom a pile of bodies.

The supreme Jarrod Evans converted the first four of the Blues’ five tries as the visitors went to the break 33-0 up.

The scoring resumed in the second half, Evans chipping ahead for Scully

to collect and dive over with the fly-half nailing the touchline conversion.

Kings did get a consolation try through their only bright spark in fly-half Ntabeni Dukisa, but by then the Blues had rested key men Williams, Josh Navidi and Gareth Anscombe.

It didn’t make a jot of difference with the Blues pack well on top.

Myhill added his second from another forward surge and although the rate of scoring didn’t continue, the final result had long since been decided.

It meant that a second Kings try for Welemu, a reward for the home side never going away, failed to ruin a day to remember for the Blues in the Rainbow Nation.

Turnbull and Evans both produced impressive performances and on this evidence, Blues will go into their game with Pau as favourites.