By Max Drinkwater-James
USW fell just short of victory against their local rivals BUCs Western Conference Tier B, despite a spirited second half comeback.
The home side crossed the whitewash for tries through Jarrad Bowen, Dan Cotterell and Tai Thomas.
Touchdowns for Cardiff came from Harry Marchington, Olly Milsom, Finn Osborne, and Toby Anderson.
The visitors wasted no time opening their account with a score before two minutes had elapsed.
Fly-half Tom Crompton’s kick deep found Marchington who claimed the first try.
The Cardiff pack made their presence felt and prop Olly Milsom soon forced his way over for Cardiff’s second try.
The home side then produced some power of their own to get themselves back into the match.
Hooker Jarrad Bowen was the man to capitalise, diving over from five metres out after a clever tap-penalty moved his side into a promising position.
Pic: Rebecca Hall
But it was the visitors who worked the scoreboard within just three minutes. Again, a clever kick-dummy and measured pass from Compton created the opportunity for Milsom to cross.
Cardiff cemented their dominance when Anderson, yet again from a Compton kick, darted over in the corner to establish a half-time lead of 22-7.
The pattern of the game changed completely in the second half.
In the 52nd minute USW substitute Dan Cotterell bulldozed his way over the whitewash to draw the scores closer at 22-12.
Then the hosts hauled themselves to within three points after a brilliant solo try from Tai Thomas.
Winger Thomas grubbered the ball towards the line and collected his own kick to score and set up a grandstand finish.
USW belief soared further when Cardiff’s Diran Oresanya was sin-binned for an offence at a ruck.
But the points needed to claim the result proved elusive.
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