Blues (6) 14
Try: Sowden-Taylor
Pens: Flanagan (3)

Cardiff Blues became the first side to win at the Rec for over a year as they overcame Bath in the EDF Energy Cup.

But the win proved futile as Leicester went through to the semi-finals as Group B winners after beating Sale.

Two penalties apiece from Blues' Dai Flanagan and Bath's Olly Barkley left the scores level at the break.

Flanagan added a third on 65 minutes before Robin Sowden-Taylor's try from a flowing counter-attacking move made the game safe five minutes from time.

Interview: Cardiff Blues' Dai Young

The atrocious conditions at a rain-soaked Rec played a significant part in both sides letting slip decent opportunities to score tries in the first half.

Bath winger Joe Maddock was the first to be disappointed when he knocked on in the process of trying to collect the ball while sliding over the Blues tryline.

Blues scrum-half Jason Spice then missed an even better opportunity when, under no pressure, he lost control of the ball as he prepared to ground it in the Bath in-goal area.

To their credit both sides, and in particular the Blues, continued to attempt to play with ball in hand, but two penalties apiece was all their reward before the half-time break.

The rain abated for the second-half but the wind picked up, giving the Blues a distinct advantage.

It quickly came their aid as Barkley's penalty was held up and dropped short of the posts.

Flanagan suffered the same fate on 63 minutes when he tried to make use of the wind with an effort from his own half.

But he was on target two minutes later from a penalty which saw Bath lock Peter Short sent to the sin bin for pulling back Blues number eight Xavier Rush off the ball.

The Blues failed to make their numerical advantage count, but they delivered the telling blow five minutes from time with a superb counter-attack.

Full-back Jamie Roberts was the instigator when he picked up a loose ball in his own 22 and charged towards the halfway line.

Wing Tom James took the move on and then Andy Powell was dragged down yards short of the Bath line.

The Blues managed to recycle the ball quickly and flanker Sowden-Taylor timed his run perfectly to take Spice's pass and dive over in the corner.

"We're very disappointed to give up our unbeaten home record in such a manner.

"We were certainly flat. We didn't get off our line in defence to make life difficult for them and didn't put them under enough pressure."

"We showed a lot of guts and determination and deserved to get the result. It was a real team performance - we were excellent in defence and we did a great job on the Bath set-piece.

"It's disappointing not to go through, but we did all we could. We were always up against it this year with two away games, but I'm proud of the effort tonight."

Bath: Abendanon; Maddock, Cheeseman, Barkley, Stephenson; James, Claassens; Ovens, Dixon, Ward, Borthwick, Short, Faamatuainu, Lipman, Browne.
Replacements: Berne for Cheeseman (70), Walshe for Claassens (77), Ion for Ovens (45), Mears for Dixon (50), Purdy for Short (74), Scaysbrook for Lipman (70), Goodman for Browne (44).

Sin Bin: Short (63).

Cardiff Blues: J. Roberts; Selley, G. Thomas, D. Hewitt, James; Flanagan, Spice; Yapp, R. Thomas, G. Powell, Jones, Tito, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Rush (capt).
Replacements: G. Williams for R. Thomas (75), G. Jenkins for Yapp (58), Morgan for Tito (74), Powell for Molitika (58).
Not Used: White, Allenson, Howells.

Att: 9,510

Ref: N Owens (Wales).