Blog Banner

Cardiff Blues Women brush aside Dragons in Regional Championship opener

16th October 2017


Cardiff Blues Women sealed a 12-38 victory over East Wales rivals, Dragons, in the Regional Championship opener at Ystrad Mynach on Sunday.

The Blues racked up a 12-point lead at half time, with Heather Rees and Awen Prysor crossing the whitewash, and secured the victory with four further tries scored in the second half.

The home side did cross twice in the latter stages of the game, but the Blues were clear on their way to victory.

Following a tense start to the game, it took 13 minutes for the scoreboard to tick over, as a well-worked move saw Elin Huxtable feed Rees down the left.

The wing showed an injection of pace to beat the defensive line and cross for the game's opening try, with Bethan Davies converting.

Cardiff Blues showed resilient defending, with Prysor, Megan Oaten and Abbie Fleming impressing, much to the delight of forwards coach, Stuart Clarke.

It was Prysor who was next on the scoresheet, as she extended her side's lead, powering over for a try after 22 minutes.

Despite being reduced to 14, following the sin binning of scrum half Jess Pritchard, Cardiff Blues maintained pressure on the Dragons defence, but were unable to cross for a third before half time, despite a break by number eight, Fleming.

The interval didn't halt the Blues' momentum however, and despite Davies being denied just short of the line,  slick hands worked the ball out to centre Claire Morgan, who dotted down under the posts, with Huxtable adding the extras.

Minutes later it was a fourth for Cardiff Blues Women, as a set-piece move released Raf Taylor, who ran in from 70m, with Huxtable's conversion stretching the lead to 26 points.

Kelly Watkins did pull one back for the hosts, but any chance of a comeback was halted when replacement Hannah Bluck, making her regional debut, and Davies both crossed for quick-fire tries.

Dragons' Rhiannon Mann had the last say, touching down for a try in the final play of the game.