RaboDirect Pro12: Week 9 Review
After a couple of weeks break for Heineken Cup matches the Pro12 league is back and was packed with thrilling games. The top five in the leader board are now only separated by a mere five points with Ospreys still enjoying the top spot. Bottom of the table Aironi received another thrashing as the Blues boys barely let them into the game.
Cardiff Blues 38 - 0 Aironi
The boot of Dan Parks kept the Blues scoreboard ticking over in the first half as they eased their way to a bonus point victory. Daffydd Hewitt celebrated his 50th appearance for the Welsh team with a fantastic breakaway try as his team cruised to their biggest win in two and a half years. While Casey Laulala, Tom James and Marc Breeze also all went over the line in the second half as the game really came alive. Solid defence by the home team denied Aironi any chance of getting near the try line and their start to the second part of the season saw Sinoti Sinoti sin-binned and the Italians were punished by the Blues.
Scarlets 22 - 12 Newport Gwent Dragons
Stephen Jones kicked 17 points for the Scarlets as he made his 300th appearance for the club in their derby game against the Dragons who lost their third successive match. Just before half time Rhys Thomas went over for the only try of the game which was duly converted by Stephen Jones. Dragons missed out on a crucial losing bonus point as they suffered their sixth defeat in eight matches. They looked sure to grab the losing bonus point after a late penalty from Steffan Jones but his efforts were matched by Stephen Jones had the final kick of the evening.
Glasgow Warriors 17 - 9 Ulster
Troy Nathan scored a crucial try after an unexpected turnover to give Glasgow back the advantage as they secured their fifth successive win of the league. Glasgow went into the break with a 9-3 lead with Ian Humphrey's missing several kicks for the visitors. Weir's late drop-goal to guaranteed them the win having just missed the tricky conversion attempt from Nathan's try. Humphrey compensated early in the second half for his missed kicks as he put the visitors back within three points and then slotted over another to equal the scores. The win ensured the hosts moved into third place on the table while Ulster are down in eighth.
Benetton Treviso 20 - 30 Leinster
Leinster's Fergus McFadden made sure there was no repeat of last years shock defeat to Treviso by kicking 15 points as the visitors battled to subdue the battling Italian side. Leinster gained an early lead with tries from Leo Auva'a and Fionn Carr but Tobias Botes' on target kicking meant the home side were only trailing by five points at the break. A try by Manoa Vosawai leveled the scored but Botes lost his kicked as he missed a simple conversion followed by two penalties. McFadden continued to kick fantastically and Eoin O'Malley ensured the win with a try in the 63rd minute.
Connacht 6 - 17 Ospreys
Ospreys secured their third away win of the season despite their depleted squad as the Welsh Internationals prepare for next weekend's game again Australia. Matthew Morgan shined for the Welsh side as he ranked in a 12 point haul. Morgan and Miah Nikora exchanged early penalties before Morgan went over for the first try of the game which he duly converted. Despite a second half sinbinning for Ian Gough the home side were unable to take advantage. Sonny Park made his impact after coming on from the bench as he went over for a try with Morgan adding the extras.
Munster 34 - 17 Edinburgh
Munster put an end of Edinburgh's three match winning streak as their secured a bonus-point victory. Edinburgh props Jack Gilding and Kyle Traynor were both sin-binned in the second half. Phil Godman, Tom Brown and Greig Laidlow scored tries for the visitors but it wasn't enough to compete with the four tries the home side managed. Danny Barnes, Simon Zebo, Luke O'Dea all went over for penalty tries, while Munster were also awarded a penalty try. While Ian Keatley's boot ensured the Munster scoreboard ticked over in between tries.
