Dewdney's late finish adds to Scarlets' misery

Cardiff Blues 14 Llanelli Scarlets 1

Cardiff Blues took a tentative step towards guaranteeing a place in the Heineken Cup next season with victory over Welsh strugglers Llanelli Scarlets at the Arms Park yesterday.

Cardiff Blues took a tentative step towards guaranteeing a place in the Heineken Cup next season with victory over Welsh strugglers Llanelli Scarlets at the Arms Park yesterday.

The lowest-ranked Welsh region at the end of the Celtic League season faces a play-off to join the European élite next season, and five losses have made the Scarlets favourites to be trailing the pack in May.

Scarlets Gareth Bowen opened the scoring with a close-range penalty goal, Lee Thomas responded for the hosts.

Scarlets Barry Davies then dived over in the corner. Bowen added a superb conversion and the visitors seemed on course to win, a view strengthened by their ability to hold out when first Scott Quinnell and then Ian Boobyer were sent to the sin bin. However, just as he jogged back on to the field, a break from the Blues set up a great position for the home side and Dean Dewdney squeezed over in the corner.

Cardiff Blues: Try D Dewdney; Penalties L Thomas 3. Llanelli Scarlets: Try B Davies; Penalty G Bowen; Conversion G Bowen. Cardiff Blues: C Morgan; D Dewdney, S James, L Thomas, F Tuilagi; N Macleod, R Smith; J Yapp, R Thomas (A Lewis 65-70), M Jones (B Evans 78), C Quinnell (capt), R Sidoli, N Budgett, K Schubert, R Sowden-Taylor.

Llanelli Scarlets: B Davies; G Evans, M Watkins (capt), T Selley, S Finau (M Taylor 71); G Bowen, R Jones (C McDonald 31); P John, M Rees, J Thiel, C Wyatt, A Jones, G Thomas, S Quinnell (J Mills 76), I Boobyer.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).