Historic win for determined Blues
Sun, 23 May 2010 17:40
To the victors go the spoils: Glory for the Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues became the first Welsh side to win a European title when they beat French club Toulon 28-21 in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final on Sunday.
The cosmopolitan French side had dominated the first half but failed to convert massive possession and territorial advantage into real points.
Turning around for the second period at Marseille's sun-drenched Stade Velodrome at 13-6 up, Toulon lost England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson to injury and with him all shape and structure to their game.
Cardiff scored three tries through Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny and Bradley Davies, with Kiwi fullback Ben Blair kicking a penalty and two conversions, Halfpenny also chipping in with two penalties.
Toulon saw outstanding centre Sonny Bill Williams and Thomas Sourice cross for tries, Wilkinson kicking two penalties and a conversion and Tom May also landing a three-pointer.
Halfpenny landed a sixth minute penalty but Wilkinson cancelled that out after Martyn Williams was caught in possession.
Former All Black Blair added a second Cardiff penalty with both sides looking to move the ball around.
But defence ruled and Toulon had to make do with a second Wilkinson penalty despite their advantage in terms of territory and possession.
Halfpenny was on hand with a try-saving tackle on Jeremy Sinzelle - one of only two French players in the Toulon starting XV.
But it was to no avail as the holes appeared in a ragged Cardiff defence, and the outstanding Sonny Bill Williams, who has been offered a contract by the New Zealand Rugby Union, stepped two defenders to touch down for the game's opening try which Wilkinson converted.
Halfpenny failed with a 55-metre penalty effort to leave it 13-6 at half-time.
Toulon, with flankers Juan Fernandez Lobbe and Joe van Niekerk to the fore, swarmed all over the Blues early in the second-half in front of a packed, partisan stadium.
But the French club suffered a huge blow when Wilkinson had to go off in the sixth minute of the second half after seeming to injure his back when attempting a third penalty, which drifted wide.
Stand-in outside-half May was immediately rushed into an error behind his own line, and from the resulting phase of play Roberts crashed over for a try Blair converted, against the tide of play.
May steadied his nerves with a well-struck penalty in the 54th minute to restore Toulon's lead.
Blair drew the scores level with his second penalty as a static Cardiff attack failed to trouble the Toulon.
But then Halfpenny struck, taking a beautifully-weighted Xavier Rush mis-pass to finish off several phases of play. Blair failed with the extras from the touchline.
Just four minutes later, Bradley Davies was the next recipient after a clean break by impressive centre Casey Laulala, touching down after a crash ball for a try Blair converted.
Toulon, for whom Tana Umaga appeared as a replacement, battled back and scored a second try through Sourice with four minutes to play.
But May missed the conversion and Toulon ran out of time to leave the Blues celebrating an European first for the principality.
The scorers:
For Toulon:
Tries: Williams, Sourice
Con: Wilkinson
Pens: Wilkinson 2, May
For Cardiff Blues:
Tries: Roberts, Halfpenny, B Davies
Cons: Blair 2
Pens: Blair 2, Halfpenny
The teams:
Toulon: 15 Clement Marienval, 14 Gabiriele Lovobalavu, 13 Tom May, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Jeremy Sinzelle, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Matt Henjak (captain), 8 Fotunuupule Auelua, 7 Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Joe van Niekerk (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Esteban Lozada, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Philip Fitzgerald, 1
Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 Sebastien Bruno, 17 Laurent Emmanuelli, 18 Tim Ryan, 19 Jocelino Suta, 20 Thomas Sourice, 21 Mafileo Kefu, 22 Pierre Mignoni, 23 Tana Umaga.
Cardiff: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Ma'ama Molitika, 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Deiniol Jones, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).
Replacements: 16 Gareth Williams, 17 John Yapp, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Paul Tito, 20 Sam Warburton, 21 Darren Allinson, 22 Dai Flanagan, 23 Dafydd Hewitt.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
AFP