CROSS Keys were denied what would have been an epic victory for a young and inexperienced side after a last-minute conversion sailed agonisingly wide in a thriller against Cardiff, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

There had been little to separate the two sides going into the game after they had identical records of winning two and losing three games.

And this was decided by the narrowest of margins in a fabulous game of rugby that ended in heartbreak for the visitors.

Keys opened the scoring with a stunning try after scrum-half Daniel Babos, up against ex-Wales international Martin Roberts, was put into space, 18-year-old outsprinting the home defence to touch down under the posts.

Former Cardiff Blues fly-half Jason Tovey’s conversion gave them a 7-0 lead in as many minutes.

But the hosts soon hit back when hooker and captain Joey Tomlinson crossed for a try from a driving lineout.

Ex-Keys No 10 Steffan Jones tied the scores after adding the extras.

But anything Cardiff could do, Keys showed they could it at least as good after wing Wes Cunliffe joined a driving lineout to bag a try, Tovey again adding the conversion to make it 14-7.

The home side piled the pressure on but some poor basic handling errors cost them dear and Keys made them pay again with another corking try.

The excellent Babos, reminiscent of Dwayne Peel in his heyday, tore through their defence from deep before feeding full-back Leon Andrews who put replacement Ian Newbury away, the winger doing well to finish for an unconverted touchdown.

Back came the Blue and Blacks again and, with Keys down to 14 men after Newbury was sin binned for a breakdown infringement, skipper Tomlinson scored a carbon copy of his first try which was again converted to make it 19-14 to Keys five minutes before half-time.

The capital city took the lead for the first time when Tomlinson, who was having quite a day, got his hat-trick after he was driven over the try-line again, Jones converting.

But there was still time in a rip-roaring first half for Keys to bag their bonus point try when centre Srdan Majkic went over for an unconverted try after his side exploited an overlap, Keys leading 24-21 at the break.

It took Cardiff just 40 seconds to open their account in the second half when ex-Keys wing Mathew Powell went over to give them a bonus point with his unconverted try.

This fascinating game saw Tovey and Jones swap penalties with neither side able to hold a lead for long.

Tovey was off target twice from the kicking tee as Keys missed two penalties that could have put their noses back in front.

A more clinical Cardiff used their favourite weapon, the attacking lineout to get their fifth try when replacement back row forward Rory Pitman, replacement fly-half Gareth Thompson nailing the tricky conversion to give his side a 36-27 lead.

A Tovey penalty two minutes from time reduced the hosts’ lead to just six points to set up a grandstand finish.

A high tackle by Sam Pailor on Tovey meant the home side were reduced to 14 men after he was yellow carded.

Keys put replacement back rower Todd James in at the corner but Tovey’s conversion was just wide and the visitors had to settle for a losing bonus point to go with their try bonus.


Cardiff scorers: Tries: J Tomlinson (3) M Powell, R Pitman; Cons: S Jones (3), G Thompson, Pen: S Jones

Cross Keys scorers: Tries: D Babos, W Cunliffe, I Newbury, S Majkic, T James; Cons: J Tovey (2), Pens: J Tovey (2)

Cardiff: L Ap Myrddin (I Davies 75), M Powell, J Gatt, A Jones, D Smith, S Jones (G Thompson 62), M Roberts (N Griffiths 64), T Davies (R Ruhkadze 62), J Tomlinson (capt) (N Huish 65), P Lloyd (R Davies 71), J Murphy, S Pailor, T Daley (R Pitman 54), L Crocker, M Allen.

Cross Keys: L Andrews (capt) (D Williams 64); W Cunliffe, S Majkic, D Fidler, J Goodchild (I Newbury 13), J Tovey, D Babos (O Leonard 78); C Hewlett (R Cornock 34), C Vaughan, T Hansen (S Hoskins 79), H Reader, T Lampard, J Carlin (T James 60), C Johnsey (G Price 50), J Thomas.

Argus star man: Daniel Babos