By Jordan Jones & Jack Cook
Cardiff University strengthened their position at the top of the Western 1A Division, as they hammered the University of South Wales at the USW Sport Park.
They’ve now won six games out of six in the league as they try to pull away from Cardiff Metropolitan seconds who are hot on their tails. USW are bottom of the table after Gloucestershire’s hammering of Bath meant that Mark Hutton’s side would finish the day last.
Cardiff University turned on the style in the first half, scoring a five tries, four of them converted. In the second half, USW were a player light due to injury but only conceded three as they learnt from their mistakes in the first 40 minutes.
Karolina Thomas scored an impressive hat-trick for the league leaders, alongside a brace from Lilliana Popadec and Patricia Booth. Gen Harvey and Megan Compton were also on the score-sheet, as Cardiff University earned a bonus point for their prolific performance.
USW were without Wales international Hannah Bluck, but welcomed back Georgia Evans after she was given permission to play for the University as she made her debut.
Cardiff University scored the first try of the game in the third minute, as a well-worked team move was finished by their fullback Patricia Booth. Cardiff quickly added their second thanks to a solo run and score under the posts by Karolina Thomas.
With only 10 minutes on the clock, Cardiff scored their third after good work from their winger Karolina Thomas who created space for herself to pass the ball to Liliana Popadec who finished off.
Further Cardiff tries from Booth and Thomas extended the Cardiff lead to 33-0. Another from Popadec before the break increased the half-time deficit.
The University of South Wales defended better in the second half, but Cardiff continued their attacking dominance.
Tries from Gen Harvey, Megan Compton and a hat-trick touchdown from Thomas completed the rout.
(Star Player: Patricia Booth)
Booth was everywhere this afternoon. The full-back exploited the small gaps left by USW and was worthy of her performance, after scoring two tries. She made her team tick.
Incident log:
3rd minute – Try Cardiff University: Patricia Booth
7th minute – Try Cardiff University: Karolina Thomas
10th minute – Try Cardiff University: Liliana Popadec
15th minute – Try Cardiff University: Patricia Booth
23rd minute – Try Cardiff University: Karolina Tomas
38th minute – Try Cardiff University: Liliana Popadec
47th minute – Try Cardiff University: Karolina Thomas
56th minute – Yellow Card Cardiff University: Caitlin Pugh
59th minute – Try Cardiff University: Megan Compton
62nd minute – Try Cardiff University: Karolina Thomas
