Second half performance praised as Cardiff are beaten 54 – 19 by high-flyers Loughborough.

By Tomos Smallwood

Despite a disappointing result on a wet and windy evening in Cardiff, both forwards coach Nick Fish and captain Billy Moxey were keen to praise a much improved second half by Cardiff which saw them score 3 unanswered tries.

Commenting on his side’s disappointing start to the game, forwards coach Nick Fish said: “All credit’s got to go to Loughborough, they came out with intent from the beginning, they took their opportunities, they were physical on both sides of the ball, and we didn’t match that”.

“But what I will give credit to is the boys,” Fish continued, “at half time there was a reaction and that’s all you can ask for at that particular point, the boys who came on had an impact and that’s all you can ask for”.

“If you give good teams in BUCS Super Rugby that head start, you’re giving yourself a hell of a lot to do.” Fish concluded, “but we fought well, we got some good ball, I thought the backs problem solved fantastically, and we know what we’ll expect against Leeds”.

The message from captain Billy Moxey was of a similar sentiment.

“Going into the game we actually thought we were going to have a bit of intent there was a good feel in the warm up,” he said, “I think the boys just got out there and we really let them come at us, we didn’t get off the line, we weren’t physical enough and it showed in the score”.

Speaking on the second half, Moxey said: “I think the boys who came on in the second half were outstanding, the freshers as well stepping up, putting shots in there’s a say about that”.

Moxey was full of praise for the visiting side saying: “I think they’re a very fast team, they get round the corner very quick”, Moxey added, “So are we but I think we just lacked tonight I think our work rate off the ball and our work rate round the corner just wasn’t there.

Moxey promised an improved performance against Leeds saying: “Yeah (the game is) massive, I think there’s going to be a big reflection of this game, the boys will get together and really get up for that game now,” concluding, “we’ll be a different team coming out next Wednesday”.