Cardiff Blues 64-3 Calvisano -European Challenge Cup (18/01/20)

Cardiff Blues missed out on the Quarter Finals of the European Challenge Cup, despite a comfortable 64-3 win against Semi-Pro Italian minnows Calvisano.

The Blues went into the game knowing they needed a bonus point win and results to go their way to qualify for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup, a tournament they have won twice, in 2010 and in 2018.

The Blues upheld their end of the bargaining in a game where they didn’t need to get out of second gear, securing the four try bonus point after just 21 mins through tries from Aled Summerhill, Ethan Lewis and a brace from Lewis Jones. However, this wasn’t enough as a Pau bonus point victory against the Leicester Tigers in the other game in the group ensured the Blues missed out on qualification.

Despite being much changed from the team that took on Leicester Tigers last Sunday, the Blues put on a show for the Arms Park faithful and after securing a four try bonus point after just 21 minutes kept going and were 35-3 up at the half time break thanks to a further try from the ever impressive Olly Robinson.

It would have been easy for the Blues to take their foot off the gas in the second half, knowing they had the win in the bag and knowing how unlikely it was to qualify to the knockout stages, but to their credit, they didn’t.

Shane Lewis Hughes made it 42-3 after 42 minutes and kept up their point a minute ratio when they made it 47-3 after 47 minutes thanks to a try from Wales international Lloyd Williams.

Calvisano weathered the storm somewhat for the next 25 minutes and it took until the 73^rd minute for the Blues to get their eight of the afternoon when back rower Will Boyde crashed over from close range.

Man of the match Lewis Jones wrapped up his hat trick in the 76^th minute before the Blues got their 10^th of the game with a try from Lloyd Williams taking the score to 64-3 in 79^th minute. A professional performance from the Blues against struggling opposition.

Cardiff Blues next take on Connacht away on the 15^th Feb in the Guinness Pro14 while Calvisano take on Petracra Padova in the Italian Eccellenza league next Saturday.