 | POWERGEN CUP GROUP B London Irish: (21) 27:
Tries: Gustard 2, Penney.
Cons: Laidlaw 3.
Pens: Everitt.
DG: Geraghty. Blues: (13) 23:
Tries: Phillips, G Williams.
Cons: N Robinson 2.
Pens: N Robinson 3. Att: 3500 |
London Irish held off Cardiff Blues to win an enjoyable Powergen Cup match at Reading's Madejski Stadium. But Wasps' win over Saracens rendered the result of this match redundant for qualification to the semi-finals.
The Exiles bossed the forward exchanges and flanker Paul Gustard claimed two tries, with Rodd Penney adding another.
The Blues fought back to within a point with scores from Mike Phillips and Gavin Williams, but Irish moved clear through a Shane Geraghty drop-goal.
The Blues entered the match still with a slim chance to qualify for the Millennium Stadium semi-final showdown in March if Wasps suffered a bad day against Saracens.
Wasps were not in the mood for charity, thumping Saracens 42-8, but London Irish's dogged performance ensured the Blues bowed out in any case.
Nick Robinson struck an early penalty for the side from Cardiff, but Irish were soon on the scoreboard as a rolling maul muscled its way to the line and Gustard flopped over.
Ross Laidlaw added the conversion, although Robinson's second penalty kept the Welsh within a point.
But with the Blues losing flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor to the sin-bin, the Exiles took advantage to score a second try as Gustard again benefitted from a carbon-copy maul.
|  Their driving lineout really hurt us |
Laidlaw was on target with the conversion and then produced a magnificent break through midfield, the England Under-21 player sending centre Penney under the posts for a seven-pointer.
Blues scrum-half Phillips crashed through three tackles before the break to give the visitors hope, Robinson adding the conversion to make the score 21-13.
Both sides wasted good scoring opportunities after the restart, but Williams finally got the scoreboard moving after a well-worked line-out catch and drive sent the Blues hooker over.
Robinson's conversion reduced the Exiles' lead to just a point.
Replacement Exiles fly-half Barry Everitt slotted a 64th-minute penalty, and again Robinson drew the Blues to within a point with his third penalty.
But a drop goal from England Under-19s player Geraghty ensured that it was the Exiles who stayed on top.
London Irish coach Brian Smith:
"We may not have won the chance to get through to the last four but this is still a terrific result for us.
"It is hugely significant for us to win our home games, but it is also just as pleasing that some of our up-and-coming players are having a real crack at getting into the starting line-up.
"There is genuine competition for places in our squad now and that is a healthy situation to be in."
Cardiff Blues coach Dai Young:
"Their driving lineout really hurt us and it was very difficult to stop that five-metre drive.
"Obviously we would like to think we could have done better than we did, we talked about it at half-time but they weren't in a position to try it again.
"We were much better in the second half and we had a lot of go-forward and encouragement."
London Irish: Horak; Ojo, Penney, Geraghty, Feau'nati; Laidlaw, Edwards; Collins, Russell, Skuse; Strudwick (capt), Roche; Gustard, Dawson, Leguizamon.
Replacements: Storey for Feaunati (78), Everitt for Laidlaw (59), Hodgson for Edwards (40), Flavin for Russell (69), Thorpe for Gustard (45).
Not Used: Wheatley, Johnson.
Sin Bin: Dawson (34).
Cardiff Blues: R Williams (capt); Czekaj, Stcherbina, T Davies, Morgan; N Robinson, Phillips; Yapp, G Williams, B Evans; D Jones, Goode; Schubert, Sowden-Taylor, Powell.
Replacements: R. Thomas for G. Williams (69), M. Jones for B. Evans (60), Sidoli for Goode (69), M. Williams for Schubert (69).
Not Used: R. Powell, L Thomas, Dewdney.
Sin Bin: Sowden-Taylor (20).
Att: 3,500
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