Marshall fights losing battle to restore order to Tykes

Cardiff Blues 40 Leeds 13

The Tykes' listless display against a well-drilled Blues side on Saturday has left their inspirational captain wondering where the first win is coming from.

"I don't think the game should have gone out as much as it did in the second half," the powerful scrum-half said. "We're disappointed after being in the position we were in at halftime. They're a good side, but we would like to think we aren't really that bad."

For the Blues coach David Young, Saturday's bonus-point victory was just what they needed. After a listless display against Leinster the previous weekend, Young was not sure which Blues side would turn up. "We're a bit of a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde team, as that first-half display proved," Young said. "I told them at half-time they had to be more physical and to muscle up in the second half, and they did that."

A 27-point win it may have been, but this is a very poor Leeds side, and Blues fans are still nervous about Friday's trip to Perpignan.

Only Andre Snyman and Marshall were any good for the visitors, with any of four Blues players in line for the man of the match award. It went to the Australian centre Marc Stcherbina, but Gareth Williams, Nicky Robinson and Andy Powell could easily have drunk the champagne.

All four Blues tries came from the pack, with Williams giving himself an outside chance of Wales squad selection tomorrow with two of them. Robinson kicked eight goals in a fine performance, and will prove an able replacement if the injured Wales fly-half Stephen Jones does not make it back for the 5 November Test against the All Blacks.

Cardiff: Tries R Sowden-Taylor, G Williams (2), J Yapp; Conversions N Robinson (4); Penalties N Robinson (4); Leeds: Try A Snyman; Conversion G Ross; Penalty G Ross; Drop goal J Marshall.

Cardiff Blues: R Williams; C Czekaj, J Robinson, M Stcherbina (T Davies, 80), C Morgan; N Robinson, M Phillips (R Powell, 75); J Yapp, G Williams, M Jones, C Quinnell, R Sidoli (D Jones, 74), R Sowden-Taylor (K Schubert, 76), M Williams, A Powell.

Leeds Tykes: T Stimpson; A Snyman, R Vickerman, C Jones, T Biggs; G Ross (R De Marigny, 68), J Marshall (capt) (D Care, 76); G Kerr, R Rawlinson (G Bulloch, 70), R Gerber (J Isaacson, 55), S Morgan, T Palmer, N Thomas (D Hyde, 64), R Parks, J Crane.

Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).