Josh Navidi’s brute force was enough to get Cardiff Blues over the line against the Scarlets after the No.8 scored two first-half tries to seal a 21-9 win, giving his side consecutive GUINNESS PRO12 victories for the first time this season.

After a frantic start from the hosts Navidi’s two tries and 11 points from the boot of Gareth Anscombe were enough to give the hosts a much-needed victory.

The BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park had been a fortress for the Blues in recent weeks, winning four of their previous five on home soil in all competitions.

Match that with the poor away form of the Scarlets – who had failed to win in their previous ten games away from home – and you could see why the hosts fancied their chances.

And it was the Blues drew first blood against their Welsh rivals as fly-half Anscombe knocked over two penalties in the first 11 minutes to hand the hosts a 6-0 advantage.

And after dominating the early stages – the returning Joaquin Tuculet and Kristian Dacey both impressing – they were rewarded with the game’s first try through Navidi.

The No.8 picking the ball up from the base of the scrum and, with a little help from his forwards, he forced his way over the try line – Anscombe converting for a 13-0 lead.

Rhys Priestland got Scarlets on the scoreboard after a testing start with two penalties in as many minutes, but their success was short-lived as the hosts ran in their second try moments later, again through Navidi – Anscombe failing with the conversion.

The fly-half immediately responded however as he kicked another penalty on 32 minutes after Rob McCusker was penalised, giving the Blues a 21-6 advantage which they took with them into half-time.

There was a feisty start to the second period when Filo Paulo and Johan Snyman were both yellow carded for an off-the-ball incident – the TMO being called upon to determine any malice.

Scarlets, without a win away from home in their previous ten fixtures in all competitions needed something to happen for them after the break and Priestland reduced the deficit with a penalty on 49 minutes to get the ball rolling.

But the away side then struggled to create any meaningful chances against a resolute Cardiff defence, the entire second half in fact turning out to be much of an arm wrestle.

The visitors made wholesale changes to their front row in a bid to get things going at the set-piece – Kirby Myhill, Wyn Jones and Rhodri Jones all coming on – but even that had little influence.

Navidi didn’t have things all his own way and had to watch the final six minutes from the sin bin after being shown a yellow card, but even when the Blues were down to 14 men it was a little too late for Scarlets.

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