Brave Blues hold off Ospreys

Cardiff Blues came out on top 20-12 at the end of a fierce Welsh derby against the Ospreys which was played out in front of a crowd of 16,341.

Those that turned up at the new Cardiff City Stadium were not disappointed as the two teams served up a cracking contest on Saturday evening.

Martyn Williams marked his return from a shoulder injury with a superb display in the Blues' pack, while the hosts managed tries right at the start of each half.

However they were forced to hold off a late Ospreys fightback, the visitors throwing on their big guns in an attempt to get something from the game.

Hard-fought victory

In the end they didn't even get a losing bonus point, Cardiff clinging on for a hard-fought victory in front of their own fans.

The Blues couldn't have asked for a better start when Australian fly-half Sam Norton-Knight produced an inch-perfect kick that left-wing Tom James tapped forward before diving over the line.

Ben Blair converted but the Ospreys missed a great chance to cut the gap when fly-half Dan Biggar missed with a penalty attempt.

The only other score of the half came when Blair punished a high tackle on Jamie Roberts with three points, though winger Leigh Halfpenny saw an injury-time penalty strike the post having had a go from inside his own half.

After the break the Blues once again made an explosive start, flanker Williams finding a gap down the left wing to set up scrum-half Gareth Cooper.

Having already thrown on Wales skipper Ryan Jones at half-time, the Ospreys moved Shane Williams - captaining the team for the first time - to the scrum-half position in an attempt to get back in the game.

Immediate dividends

The move paid immediate dividends, a little dart by the stand-in number nine sparking a move which ended with Tommy Bowe crossing in the corner.

Hooker Richard Hibbard thought he'd scored a second try when he stretched over the line, only for his effort to be called back for crossing.

From then on the Blues stood strong before sealing the win with a neat drop goal from Australian Norton-Knight.

Although Jerry Collins crashed over out wide, Biggar converting, the Ospreys had left it too late to pick up anything for their efforts.