Lydiate v CBL

Cardiff Blues 3 Ospreys 17

The Ospreys suffered a late defeat against the Scarlets on Boxing Day, while Cardiff Blues enjoyed a one-point victory over Dragons at Rodney Parade on the same day.

It was a low-scoring first half, with Cardiff Blues’ outside half, Jason Tovey, claiming the game’s first points of the evening. However, the Ospreys responded with vigour as Ospreys Hooker Ifan Phillips claimed a try for his team off the back of a powerful maul. Unfortunately for the visitors, flanker Dan Lydiate was shown a yellow card for what was deemed leading with the forearm, and the Ospreys would be without one of their top tacklers for ten minutes at the start of the second half.

There was little doubt who was in control in the second half, as the Ospreys dominated the battle up front, earning themselves a penalty try through a driving maul, and forcing Cardiff Blues to sacrifice three men to the sin bin in defence of their line. Cardiff Blues found it very difficult to get out of their own half as the half progressed, and the Ospreys turned the screw through the dominance of their forwards. Eventually, despite some close calls and near misses, the game ended without further score.  

Justin Tipuric, Ospreys captain
“We know we’ve been dominant, set piece wise, in the Challenge Cup so far; but to do it in the league tonight against such a good side as Cardiff Blues, fair play to the boys, was outstanding.”

Full match report

Ifan Phillips, Guinness PRO14 Player of the Match
“It’s brilliant to get the win down here, Cardiff Blues are a great outfit. The set piece was important tonight. We’re all pushing each other, Sam Parry, Dewi Lake, Scott Otten, and I, so it’s great to have that competition for the number two jersey.”