Cardiff 3XV v UGRFC 1XV

University of Gloucestershire 1XV missed out on an early league win on Wednesday afternoon as they fell short against Cardiff Medics in a game that would have secured them the league win. 

In a game that saw five yellow cards and some controversial penalties for both sides, Cardiff surprised the visitors with a more controlled performance than when the two sides last met in November. 

The home team opened the scoring early in the first half following good attacking play from their pack and with the successful conversion gave themselves a comfortable cushion of points. 

UGRFC were unlucky not to get a try when they pushed towards Cardiff’s line following an attacking scrum, but the decision didn’t go their way when Cardiff were award the penalty and regained the possession. 

Soon after they looked to extend their lead through another penalty but their penalty kick went just wide of the posts.

Gloucestershire were soon back in Cardiff’s half and looking to make their territory count. UGRFC were awarded multiple penalties five meters out from the line and resulted in Cardiff being down to 13 men for the remainder of the half. After another offence close to the try line, UGRFC were awarded a penalty try, bringing the half-time score 7 points apiece. 

More cards were shown in the opening of the second half, one yellow for each side as the emotions of the players ran away with themselves. Cardiff regained their two-previous sin binned players and drove over the try line after an attacking lineout extending their lead once more. 

Cardiff lost another player to the sin bin soon followed by UGRFC as the referee tightened up on penalty offences. Cardiff capitalised soon after Gloucestershire’s yellow card with a converted try to take their lead further. 

UGRFC got the final score of the game in the closing play of the match with a well worked try from the team to lead Josh Frost over the line. The conversion was just missed leaving the full-time score 19-12. 

The Gloucestershire boys got the losing bonus point however, winning the league all rests on their next game against Bournemouth in two weeks’ time.