Cardiff Blues slumped to another defeat last night as a 22-34 loss against Leinster saw their dismal run of form continue.
The Blues have now lost eight out of the last ten in all competitions and languish in ninth place in the Pro12, while Leinster’s bonus point victory has seen them rise to top spot.
It is an alarming run for the Blues, who are the lowest placed Welsh region, and sit above only lowly Treviso, Connacht and Zebre who all have games in hand.
This weekend’s Six Nations fixtures meant both Cardiff and Leinster fielded depleted sides at the Arms Park, and it was 21-year-old debutant Jack Conan who opened the scoring for the visitors.
Conan’s senior career got off to a flying start as he reacted first in the loose and squeezed over for a try awarded by the TMO Paul Adams, which was followed by a score from hooker Richardt Strauss.
The Blues responded with a fantastic Gareth Davies effort and another from top try scorer Kristian Dacey, but the boot of Jimmy Gopperth meant the visitors led 12-17 at the break.
After the interval Davies and Gopperth traded penalties, but two unanswered converted tries by Michael Bent and Eoin Reddan stretched Leinster’s lead to 19 points.
Dan Fish went over for the home side on the hour mark, but this was the last score of the night as the Blues failed to rally.
Cardiff travel to bottom side Zebre next in a fixture they must win if they want to keep their already very slim hopes of European qualification alive.
