Saturday 6 December 2014 22:42, UK
Cardiff Blues made it three wins from three in the European Challenge Cup after inflicting a first defeat on London Irish in the battle for Pool One supremacy.
Geoff Cross dotted down early on to give Irish the lead but the home side battled back with tries from Richard Smith, Lloyd Williams and Kristian Dacey to claim a 24-14 win at Cardiff Arms Park.
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe converted all three scores and also added a penalty as the 2010 champions moved on to 14 points.
Irish, who were awarded a late penalty try during a late charge, remain on 10 points ahead of next weekend's return clash between the two teams at the Madejski Stadium.
Cardiff's win came after Welsh rivals Newport Gwent Dragons had earlier brushed aside the challenge of Bucharest Wolves 37-10 in snowy Romania following a second-half onslaught.
Bucharest actually led 10-0 after 16 minutes thanks to Sean Morrell's try and five points from Florin Vlaicu's boot, but the Dragons roared back to go into the break 13-10 ahead, before running away with things in the final 40 minutes as they scored 24 unanswered points.
Andrew Coombs collected a brace of tries for the Dragons, while James Thomas, Rhys Thomas and Ashley Smith also went over the whitewash, with Rhys Jones kicking 11 points and Jason Tovey adding a penalty.
The bonus-point victory leaves Newport second in Pool Three on 11 points, three behind leaders Newcastle.
Connacht kept the pressure firmly on Pool 2 leaders Exeter Chiefs as Pat Lam's team beat Bayonne 42-19 at The Sportsground. Their maximum points win took them to just one point adrift of the Chiefs and keeps the group nicely poised.
Bayonne drew first blood with a fifth-minute penalty goal by Argentina international full-back Martin Bustos Moyano and he went on to add three more in the first half to account for all the French club's points in the opening 40 minutes.
Winger Danie Poolman grabbed a brace while centre Bundee Aki also crossed the whitewash and Connacht claimed the bonus point try through Aki's centre partner Dave McSharry.
Replacement back-rower Willie Faloon also crossed for a try while No 10 Jack Carty kicked three conversions and a penalty with his replacement Craig Ronaldson also adding a conversion.
