Cardiff Blues 23
Glasgow Warriors 19
GLASGOW paid the price for an unfamiliar line-up with a new look threequarters and injuries up front, despite outscoring the home team three tries to two.
Steve Shingler, the former Scotland squad member who was then ruled out because of Wales U20 appearances, stepped up to put the final nail in the coffin with a penalty three minutes from time to seal the victory.
So Glasgow had to be content with a losing bonus point after a series of disruptions which ended up with prop Alex Allan playing flanker. They never quite showed the form which had been so impressive this season, but the Blues deserve plenty of credit for the way they played and made it difficult.
In the end a good start, with two early penalties opening a lead, allowed the Blues to have a cushion. They were helped when Glasgow outside half Rory Clegg missed his easier conversion of the night early in the second half.
That meant the Blues were one point ahead for most of the second period rather than one behind, before the final penalty eased nerves and allowed them to play the game out.
In some ways Clegg was probably relieved when the last kick went over as it meant his conversion miss was not crucial, but he had landed one earlier from touch so it was a case of swings and roundabouts.
With both sides full of confidence with 100 per cent records this season putting both teams in the Guinness Pro12 top four, a bright and breezy evening with an artificial pitch which of course now would be equally familiar to both teams, plenty of excitement was hoped for from this game.
Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend had made a few changes, as is his wont, with outside half Rory Clegg and centre Nick Grigg both starting their first games. However he kept Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour in his back three and they were always a threat.
The back line not being used to each other certainly counted against Glasgow early on when they were under plenty of pressure anyway, the Blues being rewarded with a couple of penalties for outside half Gareth Anscombe.
A break by full back Matthew Morgan freed wing Tom James to set up a period of pressure on the Glasgow line, finished off when Alex Cuthbert came off the right wing to take a pass from Anscombe and burst through the middle for the try.
The conversion put the home side 13-0 ahead and Glasgow needed to hit back pretty quickly, luckily it took less than three minutes for them to do just that.
It was a neat back move that put centre Peter Horne through at an angle with Stuart Hogg free on the wide outside and a clinical pass allowed the Scotland full back to do the rest.
Glasgow flanker Ryan Wilson missed a chance to get a second try when standing out on the wing, however the long floated pass dipped just short and he missed the opportunity.
However Glasgow were not to be denied and a topsy turvy game saw them take the lead after a break by scrum half Ali Price set up the position and Horne was able to squirm his way over when not held in the tackle. Clegg added his second conversion.
The clock ticked past 40 minutes as the Blues ran a penalty on half way, an offload from flanker Ellis Jenkins helped to put No 8 Josh Navidi clear into the 22 and his pass to Lee-Lo allowed the centre to go over in the corner. Anscombe added the tricky conversion as the Blues led at half-time.
Glasgow are nothing if not resilient and they hit back again early in the second half with a typical wide move putting left wing Lee Jones free to run into the home 22.
Then, just as Horne had been held and released by the tacklers for the second try, so Price was able to take advantage of a loose grip and make his way over the line for his side's third try. Clegg missed his easiest conversion attempt and Glasgow remained a point behind.
They then suffered a series of injuries which stretched the bench. First they had to replace flanker Ryan Wilson with second row Greg Peterson and then when lock Tim Swinson was injured it was Allan who was left on the bench to come on.
When replacement lock Greg Peterson fouled opposite number Josh Turnbull in the lineout witih three minutes remaining on the clock, Shingler stepped forward to clinch the win.
Scorers: Cardiff Blues: Tries: Cuthbert (23 mins), Lee-Lo (40),. Conversions: Anscombe 2. Penalties: Anscombe 2 (2, 14,), Shingler (77).
Glasgow: Tries: Hogg (26 mins), Horne (33), Price (48). Conversions: Clegg 2.
Cardiff Blues: M Morgan; A Cuthbert (B Scully, 34), C Allen, R Lee-Lo, T James; G Anscombe (S Shingler, 68), L Williams (T Williams, 67); G Jenkins (C, R Gill, 60), K Dacey (M Rees, 60), T Filise (S Andrews, 40), G Earle (M Cook, 75), J Turnbull, S Warburton, E Jenkins (N Williams, 45), J Navidi .
Glasgow Warriors: S Hogg ; T Seymour, N Grigg (M Bennett, 57), P Horne, L Jones (R Hughes, 67); R Clegg, A Price, G Reid, F Brown (P MacArthur, 22), Z Fagerson (S Puafisi, 57), T Swinson (A Allan, 67), J Gray (C), R Harley , J Strauss (L Wynne, 40), R Wilson (G Peterson, 57).
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU).
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