Eleven points down with 20 minutes remaining, Cardiff Blues looked sunk in Edinburgh, but two late scores from Sion Bennett and Lloyd Williams saw the Welsh region come back to record an impressive 18-17 win at Myreside.

Rory Scholes’ second-half double seemed to have secured a victory for the hosts, who outscored the Blues by three tries to two after Neil Cochrane had crossed at the back of a driving maul in the first half.

But misses from the tee by Sam Hidalgo-Clyne proved costly for Edinburgh, as the boot of Steven Shingler kept them in touch before their late salvo.

It was the visitors who started fastest, enjoying plenty of possession inside the opening five minutes, and they were rewarded with a penalty after Edinburgh failed to roll away at the breakdown.

Shingler made no mistake from the tee and made it 3-0 on six minutes, but the hosts then found their feet with their hands on the ball in the middle of the park, and won a penalty on halfway after a high tackle on Damien Hoyland.

They won the resulting lineout and drove towards the Cardiff line, and it was only resolute Blues defending that kept them at bay.

But another penalty and lineout later and, after Cardiff prop Anton Peikrishvili was shown a yellow-card for side entry at the contact, Edinburgh had the opening score as skipper Cochrane dove over from the driving maul.

Hidalgo-Clyne added the extras, but the hosts ill-discipline cost them again just moments later as Shingler landed his second kickable penalty of the evening after Edinburgh were pinged for a side entry in a maul.

On 23 minutes Edinburgh were awarded a penalty for another Cardiff ruck infringement, but after pointing to the posts Hidalgo-Clyne’s effort fell short.

Cardiff were reduced to 14 men for a second time in the game when lock Jarrad Hoeta was shown a yellow just before the half-hour mark, but Edinburgh could not take advantage and trouble the scorers again before the interval.

Their best opportunity came when Blair Kinghorn slipped a perfectly-weighted grubber through the defence, but Mike Allen could not quite collect and it finished 7-6 at the break.

Edinburgh began the second period far better than they did the first, with Chris Dean making a good break before Cornell Du Preez dove through a ruck to make a tackle and force a knock-on.

And from the resulting scrum came an incredible individual score from Scholes, who raced up the touchline to score in the corner.

Hidalgo-Clyne’s conversion attempt sailed wide of the mark, but the scrum-half made amends moments later to find Scholes again on the blindside, and the winger raced away for his second score in seven minutes to make it 17-6.

But it was game on at the hour mark when Cardiff’s forwards showed some superb hands to advance up the field, and Bennett was the beneficiary as he grabbed his second try in as many weeks, with Shingler landing the conversion.

The Blues were piling on the pressure and completed their comeback with eight minutes remaining, Williams collecting his own kick to score, but this time Shingler was so unlucky to see his conversion attempt clatter the post.

With Cardiff leading 18-17 going into the final five minutes the game was all set for a grandstand conclusion, with Kinghorn going wide with a long-range penalty attempt after a high-tackle on Du Preez on the halfway line.

Edinburgh kept possession but could not force their way through the resolute Blues defence, and Cardiff held on to secure a memorable win.

Guinness PRO12 Final 2017, 27^th May, Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
Ticket Information: Fans can still avail of an exclusive number of €30 tickets. Book via www.ticketmaster.ie. Further information: www.pro12rugby.com/final