Arix Viadana 9-38 Cardiff Blues

HEINEKEN CUP PLAY-OFF Viadana: (6) 9: Pens: Lilley 3. Blues: (9) 36: Tries: Sowden-Taylor, Dewdney, Robinson, Craig Morgan. Cons: MacLeod 3. Pens: MacLeod 4. Att: 3800

Cardiff Blues survived a case of first-half jitters to claim their place in next season's Heineken Cup at the expense of Italian side Viadana.

Leading this play-off just 9-6 at the break in Brescia, the Welsh side hit Viadana with four second-half tries.

Flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor raced over from a line-out, while Dean Dewdney, Nick Robinson and Craig Morgan also crossed for tries.

Viadana were limited to just three penalties from fly-half Daryl Lilley.

Although they were without Lions trio Martyn Williams, Tom Shanklin and Gethin Jenkins - plus US Eagles skipper Kort Schubert - the Blues were still able to field 11 internationals in their starting line-up.

But a largely forgettable first half at the Stadio Invernici ended with the visitors keeping their noses in front 9-6.

The sunny, hot and muggy conditions made extra demands on the players' stamina.

However, with the amount of fumbles, knock-ons and dropped balls it would have been easier to imagine the game was being played in torrential rain.

Blues fly-half Robinson made one outstanding break from his own 22, but that was offset by some sloppy tactical kicking.

Two huge in-goal areas behind the posts seemed to transfix each set of backs, who too often gave in to the temptation to aimlessly punt the ball downfield.

Apart from a brief early rumble from the Viadana pack, the home side seemed no more capable of threatening the try line and it was left to the kickers to score points.

Lilley opened the Italians' account after seven minutes and struck a second four minutes into first-half injury time.

But the former Canterbury Crusader missed one easy chance, while full-back Casper Steyn was wide with a long-range effort.

Nick MacLeod made no mistake with his three chances for the Blues, a small plus point that coach Dai Young could build on during his half-time lecture.

We were rusty but we put a few things together in the second half to come away with the result, and that's all that counts Blues coach Dai Young

The Welsh side came out with greater intent and forced an early line-out deep in Viadana territory.

Robert Sidoli tapped down and openside flanker Sowden-Taylor raced through untouched, rounding wing Kaine Robertson far too easily for an unconverted try.

Lilley pulled Viadana back to 9-14 with his third penalty kick soon after.

MacLeod suffered his first failure - surprisingly from almost in front of the posts - but made amends on 55 minutes to put the Blues 17-9 ahead and crucially two scores clear.

At last the Blues backs were starting to find some fluency and Rhys Williams, Robinson and Tristan Davies worked space to send Dewdney racing over in the right corner.

MacLeod's conversion made it 24-9 to the Welshmen and suddenly the Cardiff side were motoring.

Dewdney read a floated pass from Viadana fly-half Lilley and intercepted, racing upfield before shipping the killer pass inside for Robinson to lope away under the posts.

Morgan, on the opposite wing to Dewdney, grabbed the Blues' fourth try in injury time, MacLeod's conversion rounding things off nicely.

The Blues now join compatriots the Ospreys, Llanelli Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons at next season's European top table.

A six-week gap without a competitive game before this match explains some rustiness.

But on this evidence coach Young has much work to do if his side are to harbour any realistic hopes of qualifying from the Heineken Cup group stage.

First the majority of the squad have a date with Wales coach Mike Ruddock in North America, although prop John Yapp needed an X-ray on a hand injury but was given the all-clear.

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Arix Viadana: Casper Steyn; Kaine Robertson, Andrea Masi, Diego Saccà, Tom Beim; Daryl Lilley, Matteo Mazzantini; Mario Savi (capt), Stefano Saviozzi, Carlos Nieto, Cristian Bezzi, Van Humphries, Daniel Stead, Andrea Benatti, Josh Sole.
Replacements: Ermes De Bellis, Matias Aguero, Emanuele Brancalion, Gregor Hayter, Facundo Lopez, Pietro Travagli, Claudio Spadaro.

Cardiff Blues: N Macleod; D Dewdney, R Williams (capt), T Davies, C Morgan; N Robinson, R Powell; J Yapp, G Williams, B Evans, D Jones, R Sidoli, M Molitika, R Sowden-Taylor, M Lewis.
Replacements: N Llewellyn, R Thomas, C Quinnell, N Budgett, L Thomas, S James, N Walne.

Referee: Dave Pearson (England).

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