Sheedy has impact but Cardiff fail to impress

By ROGER PANTING

Cardiff ……………29pts

Tries: Stephens 9, Thomas 40, Belcher 43, Martin 53, Hughes 78

Conversions: De Beer 40, Sheedy 53

Bath ……………….. 18pts

Tries: Richards 18, 27

Conversions: Donoghue 18

Penalties: Donoghue 38, 50

ON PAPER this looked an ideal opportunity for Cardiff to begin their Arms Park season in style, such was the difference in quality between the line-ups. Bath chose a near 3rd XV with hooker Hame Faiva their only international while Cardiff were near full strength with 12 internationals.

But Cardiff spluttered their way through the first half and were fortunate to be just three points behind at the interval as Bath surrendered momentum at a vital stage.

After Cardiff had lost two lineouts, Bath missed the opportunity to kick the ball out and hear the half-time whistle but foolishly they kept playing and it proved disastrous as their outstanding skipper, Ewan Richards, was yellow carded before conceding a converted try.

Cardiff took full advantage of their luck to take control as their pack dominated the second half to run out deserved winners, five tries to two.

Bath head coach Johann Van Graan said: “As a squad we have become tough to beat and we stayed in the fight right to the end.

“Too many players in England are just training and sitting on the sidelines so it’s impressive that we’ve given over 50 players game time this weekend. We had a very young side but they acquitted themselves well and playing at the Arms Park was a great experience for them.”

Bath suffered an early injury blow when Thompson Cowan departed before the hosts took the lead by working an overlap for Iwan Stephens to score. Tinus De Beer missed the conversion before being yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on and it proved costly as his side surrendered the lead. Flyhalf, Ciaran Donoghue, impressive at full-back last week, tore through the defence and when the ball was recycled Richards forced his way over.

De Beer returned from the bin but Bath continued to be the dominant force and were rewarded with a second try from Richards, and a penalty from Donoghue.

Cardiff were then offered a lifeline when Richards was yellow-carded for dragging down a maul and they capitalised with a try from Dan Thomas with De Beer’s conversion leaving them 15-12 adrift at the interval.

Richards was still absent when Cardiff scored a third with Liam Belcher finishing off a line-out drive but the lock returned in time to see Donoghue kick a second penalty.

Cardiff introduced Callum Sheedy for his first appearance for the club and he was soon in action by converting a try from Mackenzie Martin.

That score was the precursor for the home side to dominate and they sealed victory with yet another try from a driving lineout scored by Dafydd Hughes.

Cardiff’s head coach, Matt Sherratt said: “It was a scratchy effort from us and far from a typical Cardiff performance.”