Blues keep European hopes alive with win over Ulster

Cardiff Blues 22 Ulster 8

Cardiff Blues kept alive their flickering hopes of a Heineken Cup spot next season with Celtic League victory over Ulster but will regret failing to claim a valuable bonus point on a freezing night.

As the lowest-placed Welsh region, the Blues needed maximum points to boost their chance of overtaking either Ulster or Connacht and earning the opportunity of a back-door entry to Europe’s premier competition via a play-off with the third-ranked Italian club.

With 13 internationals in their starting line-up, including seven who featured in the Wales team which won the RBS 6 Nations trophy shown to the crowd before kick-off, the Blues had little excuse for not producing the goods.

They could not have asked for a better start as, after just 52 seconds, flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor was touching down following a long miss pass from centre Tom Shanklin.

Full-back Nick Macleod converted and added a penalty before Shanklin put his own name on the scoresheet, outflanking the Ulster defence to run in from 35 yards.

A rare Irish visit to the Blues half saw lock Matt McCullough held up over the line, but from the resulting scrum wing Tommy Bowe set off on a gallop and broke Shanklin’s tackle to claim his eighth Celtic League try of the season.

The Blues dominated the rest of the half, but stout Ulster defence kept them at bay and there was a further setback for the home side when Lions hopeful Shanklin hobbled off with a knee injury, though nothing serious enough to worry Sir Clive Woodward.

Ulster fly-half Paddy Wallace was foiled by a last-ditch tackle from Macleod early in the second period, but slotted over a penalty.

But he missed two more penalties and the Blues responded with a try from lock Craig Quinnell, improved by Macleod.

There was little penetration in the home attacks however, and despite the inspirational efforts of skipper Martyn Williams the sought after bonus point never materialised.