New Blues, Ceri Sweeney and Richard Mustoe started the match, but the fly half's first touch in a Cardiff shirt was rather uninspired. His kick off went straight out, but that was quickly put right, touching down for Cardiff's opening score.

But he was eclipsed by fellow signing Mustoe, who crossed for a hat trick in his debut,, before he was replaced at half time! It was a well taken fifteen points, as Mustoe had a bit to do to score on all three occasions, in particular one where he needed every single inch to stretch to put the ball on the line.

Aled Brew came on at half time, and he too enjoyed much debut success. He managed to score a brace, rounding a frustrated Leigh Halfpenny for the second.

Tom James replaced Czekaj as Dai Young rung the changes, and he too put his name on the score sheet, fuelling the debate over who will start in the wing berths next season.

Nick Robinson, who had an equal third of the match along with Sweeney and Flanagan at stand off, showed pace to round his man to score a good solo effort, as Cardiff showed their superiority and class.

The Blues were without Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Jamie Robinson, Rhys Williams, Xavier Rush, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams, Deiniol Jones and Andy Powell, although most of the above will be available for the 2^nd and final friendly fixture in a fortnight against Northampton.

The biggest noting factor watching the side tonight, was that they all looked a lot bigger, clearly bulking up and weights training was the order by Young, and it was very noticeable. Nick Robinson was perhaps the most obvious example of this, whilst in truth the whole side looked bigger and stronger, something highlighted by the near clean sheet.

Maybe it was just the players picked were bigger than we're used to seeing. A midfield partnership of Stitch and Shanklin looked dwarfed compared to Alfie and Daf Hewitt, both of whom had cracking games.

For a side taking part in their first match for several months, they looked fairly polished and linked up together well, I suppose one advantage of the lack of new signings. Admittedly, the opposition was weak, but as the old cliché goes, you can only beat what your up against, and there can be no doubting they did that in some style.

With a busy opening month of the season just weeks away, there is undoubtedly work to be done before they are the finished article, but after a tonight's performance, there's renewed hope that Cardiff can end their time at Cardiff Arms Park with some silverware.

Cardiff Blues

Ben Blair; Richard Mustoe, Gareth Thomas, Dafydd Hewitt, Chris Czekaj; Ceri Sweeney, Richie Rees; Rhys Gill, Rhys Thomas, Gary Powell, James Down, Paul Tito (capt), Maama Molitika, Sam Warbuton, Mark Lewis.

Ross Johnson, Damien Welch, John Yapp, Darren Allinson, Dai Flannigan, Tom James, Aled Brew, Nicky Robinson, Jason Spice, Andy Powell, Robin Sowden Taylor, Ben White, Scott Morgan, Bradley Davies, Taufa'ao Filise, Gareth Williams, Scott Roberts

Tries
Mustoe x 3
Brew x 2
Sweeney
Robinson
James

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