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. Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to ourYouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for ournewsletterfor regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12
