Director of Rugby Mark Hammett praised the 'depth of character' at Cardiff Blues as they held off a strong second half from regional rivals Scarlets to record an impressive 21-9 derby win in the Guinness PRO12.
Back row Josh Navidi grabbed a clinical try brace in the first half as Blues opened up a commanding 21-6 lead by the break in what Hammer described as the best performance of the season.
But it was the manner in which his Blues held firm in the second half against a fired-up Scarlets response that pleased him most as a bouncing BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park celebrated derby day joy.
“I thought our first half performance was particularly good,” said Hammer. “We reduced our error rate and even the second half was pretty good given we didn’t have much of the ball.
“It was a game of two halves but, to be honest and now that we’ve achieved the win, that second half was probably something we can get more out of than the first.
“The adversity that you have to go through with the yellow card and then keeping them try less was really pleasing.
“The second half probably wasn’t as thrilling for the fans. But for me it showed our depth of character. We scrummed well, out lineout ball was good and we looked sharper in attack.
“The difference between winning and losing at this level is only four or five percent. That’s about not being right in one area and that’s the difference.
“We’ve just got to continue to work on our systems and patterns and do them more clinically and with intensity. We’ve still got to get better.”