SCARLETS GET THE BLUES
Jarrod is the star man as Cardiff Blues win Rainbow Cup derby:
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH Jarrod Evans landed a late penalty to secure a bonuspoint victory for Cardiff Blues in a rollercoaster Rainbow Cup clash.
The Blues looked to be cruising to an easy win when they claimed their fourth try to wrap up the bonus point and go 26-9 up after 44 minutes.
But the Scarlets staged a thrilling final-quarter comeback to take the lead with just minutes to go, only for fly-half Evans to have the last word.
It was a highly-eventful encounter with seven tries and Captain’s Challenges being denied amid a grandstand finish.
In the end, it was fitting that Evans should decide the outcome as he was the game’s outstanding performer.
He side-stepped over for the opening touchdown and weaved his magic with his range of passing, his running game and his eye for a gap, while he also pulled off a try-saving tackle.
The 24-year-old hasn’t played for Wales since February 2020, but on this form he has put his hand up in a big way to be involved in the summer internationals against Canada and Argentina, especially with Dan Biggar away with the Lions.
That’s now a hat-trick of wins for Cardiff Blues over the Scarlets this year following back-to-back PRO14 victories in January.
They dominated the first half, with second-row Cory Hill picking a trademark line to crash over and full-back Hallam Amos dummying his way across to establish a 19-9 interval lead, with all the home side’s points coming from the boot of Leigh Halfpenny.
Then Josh Turnbull went in for the bonus-point try four minutes after the break, following another well-constructed attack, and the game seemed over as a contest.
But back came the Scarlets in the final quarter, with two tries from replacement scrum-half Dane Blacker.
Then, five minutes from time, they took the lead as Angus O’Brien ran on to a grubber kick from Dan Jones to claim a converted score.
Turnbull’s Captain’s Challenge over an alleged pull back on him in the build-up was rejected and the try stood.
Then three minutes from time we had a further twist when the Blues were awarded a penalty.
Scarlets skipper Ken Owens attempted to lodge his own Captain’s Challenge, claiming an opposing player had come in from the side.
But, without reviewing the incident, Irish referee Sean Gallagher ruled that it was not a case of foul play and not leading to a try, so there could be no challenge.
That caused some confusion amid suggestions that you can challenge anything in the last five minutes of a game.
But Gallagher stuck to his guns and Evans landed the penalty to seal the result.
SCARLETS: L. Halfpenny; T. Rogers, J. Davies, I. Nicholas, J. McNicholl; A. O’Brien, K. Hardy; R. Evans, R.
Elias (capt), A. Jeffries, J. Helps, L. Rawlins, A. Shingler, E. Kennedy, J. Morgan. Reps: K. Owens, S. Thomas, J. Sebastian, M. Jones, I. Rees, Gareth Davies, D. Jones, J. Roberts.
CARDIFF BLUES: H. Amos; J. Harries, W. Halaholo, B. Thomas, J. Adams; J. Evans, T. Williams; R. Carre, K. Dacey, D. Lewis, S. Davies, C. Hill, J. Turnbull (capt), O. Robinson, J. Ratti. Reps: L. Belcher, C. Domachowski, K. Assiratti, R. Thornton, G. Bradley, L. Williams, D. Fish, H. Millard.
REFEREE: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)