Cardiff Blues 19 – 9 Ulster Rugby
Super sub Ma’ama Molitika grabbed a vital try to earn Cardiff Blues a crucial Magners League victory over Ulster at Cardiff City Stadium.
Coach David Young made an inspired tactical substitution in the 60th minute when he brought the big hitting Tongan on for Welsh back rower Andy Powell just a minute after the Irishmen were reduced to 14 men after centre Darren Cave was yellow carded for tripping Leigh Halfpenny.
The match was delicately poised with the home side 9-6 ahead but Molitika picked off a lineout five metres out and coasted over the try line with hardly a hand laid upon him. Birthday boy Ben Blair added the conversion to ease the Blues nerves.
The match hardly ever got in to top gear with the Blues doing just enough to record their sixth consecutive victory against Ulster while the Irish side, apart from the excellent long distance goal kicking of young fly half Niall O’Connor, never looked like they were going to secure their first away victory since their trip to Connacht in September.
Three first half penalties by Blair which was answered with one effort from O’Connor gave the Blues a 9-3 halftime lead. Ulster clawed back another three points courtesy of O’Connor’s trusty boot early in the second spell but the match turned in the 56th minute when Ulster’s Ryan Caldwell was sent to the sin bin for interference in a ruck.
The Blues scented blood and were given further help by the visitors when Cave followed his team mate to the sin bin. Down to 13 men, Molitika appeared from the Blues bench to make his mark on the game.
Man of the match Paul Tito was proud of his troops, saying after the game, “It was a very tough game. They took it to us and nullified out game in the forwards but we came out on top and that is all that matters.”
Scorers: Cardiff Blues (9) 19 – Try: Molitika; Cons: Blair Pens: Blair 4
Ulster (3) 9 – Pen: O’Connor 3
