Cardiff give Warriors the blues

Glasgow Warriors 23 Cardiff Blues 28

Glasgow’s Celtic League revival hit the buffers as they produced one of their poorest performances at Hughenden.

Hugh Campbell’s men had entered the fray brimming with confidence after the previous weekend’s stunning triumph over European giants Munster.

But they suffered a major defensive fade-out to gift grateful Cardiff a spate of bonus-point tries which hoisted them towards the top of the table.

Glasgow had made a powerful start by opening up a 10-point advantage inside 15 minutes – but then the wheels came off in alarming fashion.

They edged in front with a close-range penalty by skipper Dan Parks after the Blues backline crept offside.

And when Calvin Howarth nipped in for a great try following a crossfield dash from Sam Pinder, it seemed there was only one team in the contest.

However, the Warriors just switched off and handed the Welshmen 14 points on a plate through woeful tackling – with Howarth the chief culprit.

First, he appeared to stand and watch as stand-off Nicky Robinson cruised past him to the line at the end of a 40-metre mazy run.

Even worse was to come when Howarth again backed off to allow winger Craig Morgan to amble in at the right-hand corner. Robinson slotted both conversions, the second of which was from the widest possible angle.

Robinson had a chance to clock up a further three points when Scotty Lawson was penalised in his own danger zone for holding on in contact, but this time the kick screwed past the far post.

Shaky Glasgow had another reprieve as Robinson’s next penalty attempt crashed back off the woodwork, giving them the opportunity to scramble to immediate safety.

At the other end, Parks fluffed a pot at goal on the stroke of the break to turn round four points in arrears.

Glasgow’s dreadful marking was again underlined five minutes after the restart when the Blues were gifted another seven points.

This time flanker Maama Molitika was the beneficiary, brushing aside a series of weak challenges to romp in under the crossbar to give Robinson an easy conversion.

Warriors at least responded positively to their latest howler and they clawed back five points almost instantly as winger Mike Roberts skipper over. Parks’ kick hit the post.

But Cardiff were soon back in command with Molitika barrelling over from close quarters to record his double. Lee Thomas added the extras.

Warriors refused to buckle under the pressure and when Rory Lamont hurtled over for their third touchdown, a dramatic finale was on the cards.

The tension rose when a Howarth penalty struck the upright. He salvaged a consolation bonus point with a stoppage-time strike.