Danny Wilson paid credit to his Cardiff Blues’ attacking weaponry after they scored three tries in a 24-24 draw at Ulster on Friday, despite losing Sam Warburton to a worrying knee injury.
Blues coach Wilson saw his team deliver a far improved performance from their European Challenge Cup defeat at Gloucester as they dented Ulster’s hopes of finishing in the top four of the Guinness Pro12.
But it could come at a personal cost to skipper Warburton, who limped off just 12 days before the Lions squad is announced. The Wales flanker is due to undergo a scan on Saturday.
Wilson said: “It was our third away game on the bounce, but the boys put in a huge shift and did themselves proud.
“Obviously, we are disappointed not to come away with the win. But our attacking game was excellent, especially given the amount of injuries we have had.
“It would have been a famous win against a fully loaded Ulster team, with lots of internationals, but we couldn’t quite hold on at the end.
“We are certainly a threat with the ball, but we still have to do more without the ball.”
The Blues fully deserved to end Ulster’s run of six straight wins. In a game which saw the lead change hands, the result leaves the Irish province in fourth with three games to play while the Blues stay eighth.
Ulster scored tries through Paddy Jackson and Luke Marshall. Jackson kicked three conversions and a penalty while they were also awarded a penalty try in the first half which ended with the home side leading 14-10.
Blues centre Rey Lee-Lo scored two second half tries while Warburton crossed over in the opening 40 minutes before he went off. Gareth Anscombe kicked three conversions and a penalty.
Anscombe scored the first points of the game with a ninth-minute penalty after Rory Best failed to roll away from a ruck but Ulster hit back two minutes later after Ruan Pienaar’s chip through was collected by Jackson who ran in under the posts. He converted his own score to put Ulster 7-3 up.
But the Blues responded with a try after 22 minutes when a series of missed tackles saw skipper Warburton driven over from close range and Anscombe added the extras.
Four minutes later Ulster put a penalty into the corner and from the driving maul referee Ian Davies awarded a penalty try which Jackson again converted to put the home side back in the lead.
The Blues got off the mark just six minutes after the restart when Lee-Lo burst through a gap to touch down under the sticks. Anscombe converted and Cardiff led again 17-14.
Jackson tied the scores with his first penalty on 56 minutes but the Blues hit back four minutes later with Lee-Lo scoring his second which Anscombe converted to take the Blues into a 24-17 lead.
The home side were not finished though and Marshall barrelled through to score after 68 minutes from Jackson’s inside pass, with the out-half’s conversion bringing Ulster level again.
And despite a frantic finish from the home side, with Charles Piutau nearly getting away after a break-out, they could not add any more points and had to be content with the draw.