Blues (13) 19
Tries: Tito Cons: Blair Pens: Blair 4
Scarlets (3) 15
Tries: Lyons, J Davies Cons: D Evans Pens: D Evans

Cardiff Blues survived a late fightback by the Scarlets to claim their first Magners League win of the season.

New Zealander Paul Tito's try helped the Blues into a commanding 19-3 lead with Ben Blair claiming the rest of their points with his boot.

But the Scarlets crossed for two tries in as many minutes to set up a nail-biting finish.

David Lyons and then Jonathan Davies went over but a missed conversion left them needing another try to win.

The home side were out to end a run of five successive Magners League defeats and dominated the early exchanges.

But they came away empty-handed after full-back Blair struck a post with a simple penalty and Australian fly-half Sam Norton-Knight was wide with a drop-goal attempt.

Norton-Knight, back in the Blues starting line-up for the first time since a disastrous debut in the season opener against Edinburgh, was still wayward with his kicking but linked up well with his centres and made a half-break that led to Blair being held up at the corner.

Scarlets full-back Daniel Evans slotted over a penalty to give the visitors the lead, but Blair cancelled it out before the Blues finally crafted an excellent try.

Disappointment for Scarlets' Dominic Day at the final whistle

A touchline gallop by Richard Mustoe, stopped by Evans at the cost of a sore head, sparked a fine handling move that freed number eight Xavier Rush, whose inside pass saw Tito crash over.

Blair, converted from wide out, and added a 50-yard penalty before half-time, but the Blues' joy was tempered with concern for Lions centre Jamie Roberts, who left the field after a bruising collision with Sean Lamont.

After Evans made a hash of a long penalty for the Scarlets, Blair extended the home side's lead with two further kicks as burly Andy Powell joined the fray to give the Blues' attacks some added impetus.

But after losing the talismanic Rush with a hand injury - which forced them to play a lock in the back row - the Blues found themselves under severe pressure in their own 22, returning Lion Matthew Rees being denied a touchdown after a prolonged examination by the TV official.

It merely delayed the inevitable, as Scarlets number eight Lyons drove off a five-metre scrum and shoved his way through Norton-Knight to the line, with Evans adding the conversion.

A massive gap opened up in the Blues midfield, allowing fly-half Rhys Priestland to race through and lay on a try for centre Jonathan Davies, but Evans' missed kick left the Scarlets still needing another try to snatch victory.

It proved too much, and despite a lengthy siege under the Blues posts the visitors were unable to break through.

Blues coach Dai Young:

"We certainly don't make things easy for ourselves.

"I thought for 65 minutes we played some good stuff and we always threatened to cut loose.

"But you've got to give the Scarlets credit. Once they sniffed a little bit of blood, they came for the jugular and we were lucky to get away with it in the end.

"I'm just pleased to get the win."

Scarlets coach Nigel Davies:

"I thought the Blues were probably worthy winners in the end. They controlled the first half very well.

"I'm pleased with the boys with the way they came back. We have got a lot more resilience about us than we have had in the past.

"We've got to try and stay in the game - we are doing that but what we are not doing is finishing the game off."

Cardiff Blues: Blair; Mustoe, Shanklin, Roberts, G. Thomas; Norton-Knight, Rees; Yapp, T. Thomas, Filise, Davies, Tito, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Rush.
Replacements: Sweeney for Mustoe (77), Evans for Roberts (38), Cooper for Rees (68), Morris for Filise (60), A. Powell for Molitika (41), Jones for Rush (62).
Not Used: G. Williams.

Scarlets: Evans; Lamont, Maule, Davies, M. Jones; Priestlend, Roberts; I. Thomas, Owen, Manu, Reed, Day, Easterby, Pugh, Lyons.
Replacements: Williams for M. Jones (62), Knoyle for Roberts (46), John for I. Thomas (46), Rees for Owen (46), Cooper for Reed (46), Turnbull for Easterby (32).
Not Used: Newton.

Att: 12,198

Ref: Andrew Small (RFU).

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