Speedster Tom Bowen replicated what he did on his Blue and Blacks debut by scoring another hat-trick in sensational fashion at St Helen’s as Cardiff RFC move back to pole position after a win over Swansea RFC.
Ethan Lloyd scored his first try for the Blue and Blacks with both Steffan Emanuel and Benji Williams also crossed over as Dan Fish’s men won their fourth game of the season.
It took the hosts only three minutes to break the deadlock after the Blue and Blacks were penalised for holding on, fullback Josh Phillips added the three to put the hosts into an early lead. From the restart, the hosts knocked the ball on but from the resulting scrum The Whites won a penalty and kicked up-field.
Next came a brilliant break from winger, Dewi Cross who put the Blue and Blacks up-field and then the hosts were penalised. However after kicking to the corner an unsuccessful take at the line-out followed and The Whites turned over possession and kicked to relieve pressure.
After a brilliant 50-22 from Luke Davies, a number of phases followed from the lineout and scrum-half Davies crossed over on 17-minutes for the hosts first of the afternoon.
Then the visitors first try came after a turnover at the line-out and Benji Williams broke through to put the visitors in a good attacking position. After some brilliant handling skills in the backline Steffan Emanuel drew the last defender and offloaded to Ethan Lloyd to score his first try for Cardiff.
In their next visit to the hosts 22, a brilliant cross field grubber kick from Harri Wilde played into the hands of Dewi Cross, however Cross looked to have scored but was penalised for double movement after discussions from the officials.
Cardiff’s next real attacking opportunity came from quick thinking by fullback, Matty Young who quickly kicked across field for Steffan Emanuel to gather. The inside-centre then put the visitors on the front foot and offloaded to Tom Bowen who showed his pace as he crossed over for his fourth of the season.
The next attacking threat from The Whites saw Cardiff penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown and the hosts kicked into the corner, however after winning a scrum from the line-out, the Blue and Blacks won a penalty and kicked to touch to relieve pressure.
HT: Swansea 10-14 Cardiff
Just like the first-half it only took the hosts three minutes to go back in-front, as after numerous penalties in Cardiff’s 22, Luca Giannini powered his way over for The Whites second. Giannini quickly claimed his second after breaking through the Blue and Blacks defence minutes later.
However, from the restart Cardiff won a penalty at the breakdown and kicked to the corner and after turning the ball back over after the line-out, the ball was spread out wide for Harri Wilde to send a flat pass to Tom Bowen who scored in the corner. Benji Williams secured the bonus point on the 58-minute mark and this came from a brilliant line break from Tom Bowen who offloaded to the number eight to cross the whitewash.
After picking up his first try for the Blue and Blacks last weekend against Carmarthen Quins, Steffan Emanuel showed his speed as he scored after intercepting from inside his own half. Harri Wilde added the extras to put Cardiff into a nine point lead going into the final quarter.
On the 68-minute mark, Cardiff were in another great attacking position but replacement scrum-half Aron Hemmings deliberately knocked the ball on and was awarded a yellow card for the hosts. With the one man advantage, Tom Bowen yet again showed his quality on the outside and scored his third of the match and sixth of the season.
Late on in the match winger, Dewi Cross was awarded a yellow card after an infringement. Then with the clock nearly in the red, outside-half Harri Houston kicked behind for replacement Brandon Wood to gather and score to secure The Whites a losing bonus point.
FT: Swansea 29-38 Cardiff
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