Cardiff Blues 45

Newcastle Falcons 24 CARDIFF Blues ran in six tries to hand a third straight LV Cup defeat to Newcastle Falcons at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The home side ran in tries through Sam Norton Knight (2), Ma’ama Molitika, Richard Mustoe, Ceri Sweeney and Ben White as they moved to the top of Pool Three.

Hooker Alex Walker grabbed a hat-trick of touchdowns for the visitors, with replacement Rob Vickers adding a fourth to give the Falcons a bonus point.

Both sides attempted to play an expansive game, with the Falcons spurning kicks for goal as Steve Bates gave his youngsters some experience of rugby at the top level.

The Blues, who needed the win to keep them in the race for qualification, saw fly-half Dai Flanagan slot over three penalties in the first half, as well as converting a wellworked try by Australian fullback Norton Knight.

The Falcons instead focused on gaining territory through the boot and were rewarded when Walker twice broke from rolling mauls to cross, fly-half Rob Miller improving the second score.

The Blues, ahead 16-12 at the interval, soon extended their lead with a close-range try from number eight Molitika, celebrating his return to action after four months out with a torn chest muscle, and lively wing Mustoe went over in the corner to send them further clear.

Walker, who had been replaced by Vickers, was restored to the field when Vickers was shown a yellow card and took advantage of his second chance to complete his hat-trick, again from a forward surge.

Vickers then came back from the sin-bin to claim the Falcons’ fourth.

By then, however, the Blues had made sure of the outcome, with a further try by Norton Knight and an interception by replacement flyhalf Sweeney.

Another substitute, flanker White, wrapped up the scoring when he shrugged off a series of tacklers to reach the line.