CELTIC CUP ROUND-UP
A CONFIDENT Cardiff Blues Aside ran in six tries to clinch a comprehensive 42-17 victory over Ospreys Development in their keenly-contested Celtic Cup battle at the Arms Park. This victory in their final match takes Richie Rees' side onto 18 points, but they will have to wait until this afternoon to find out if it is enough to secure them a place in the inaugural final. Scarlets A's scheduled clash against Dragons Aat Llandovery's Church Bank will be played today at 2.30pm – after being put back 24 hours due to Storm Callum – and they know maximum points will see them into the final.
For the Blues, skipper and No. 8 Alun Lawrence snapped up a brace of tries while other touchdowns came from lock Shane Lewis-Hughes, centre Cam Lewis, right wing Corey Howells and replacement full back Ioan Davies. Fly-half Steven Shingler kicked five conversions while his replacement Ben Jones added another.
Scrum-half Matthew Aubrey and his replacement Reuben Morgan- Williams crossed for the Ospreys tries while fly-half Josh Thomas kicked two conversions and a penalty. Blues A opened the scoring when Lawrence completed a sustained attack with a seventh minute try converted by Shingler. Then Thomas kicked a 40 metre penalty to cut the lead to 7-3.
Another try by Lawrence, converted by Shingler, put Blues A into a 14-3 lead after 26 minutes but their opponents pegged them back when Aubrey dashed over for a corner touchdown which Thomas converted with a splendid kick from the touchline.
Blues A had the last word of a lively half when Lewis- Hughes snapped up a try which Shingler converted to make the interval score 21-10. There was no stopping the home side in the second half.
Leinster A booked their place in final with a 46-25 win over Munster A at Energia Park.
Scott Penny scored twice with Dave Kearney, Bryan Byrne, Hugh O'Sullivan, Adam Byrne and Jimmy O'Brien also going over for Leinster.
