European Challenge Cup: Cardiff 28-27 Sale – Hosts seal emotional win

Cardiff produced the perfect tribute to their former chairman and benefactor Peter Thomas by beating Sale in the European Challenge Cup.

Sale scored tries through Akker van der Merwe, Thomas Roebuck and Ewan Ashman with George Ford kicking 12 points.

Cardiff’s win set up a quarter-final visit to Benetton next Saturday.

Adams benefited from the skill of Wales fly-half Evans who created both his scores.

Evans dovetailed expertly with full-back Rhys Priestland who picked up the player-of-the-match award.

Remembering a Cardiff stalwart

It was an emotional evening at the Arms Park as it represented the first time Cardiff have played at home since the passing of their life president, and long serving chairman and benefactor Thomas.

A minute’s silence was followed by a minute’s applause with Thomas’ family and Cardiff players, coaches, supporters and staff members poignantly paying their respects on the field to a man who had given so much to the organisation for more than 50 years.

Director of rugby Dai Young was visibly moved when he left the field to take up his coaching position.

Cardiff had also announced before the game they were naming the South stand at the Arms Park after Thomas.

Cardiff welcomed back Wales internationals Adams, Taulupe Faletau and Tomos Williams with Priestland switching to full-back from fly-half.

Sale, who are second in the Premiership, had dropped into the Challenge Cup having suffered three defeats in the Heineken Champions Cup pool stage.

England internationals Manu Tuilagi and Ben Curry returned to the Sharks line-up after Six Nations duty, while number eight Dan du Preez and hooker Van der Merwe started after injury.

Cardiff lock Lopeti Timani suffered an early injury blow which he could not recover from, prompting an early reshuffle with replacement Thomas Young slotting into the back row and captain Josh Turnbull moving up to lock.

Evans opened the scoring with a penalty before Sale responded with a try from powerful hooker van der Merwe who stormed over with Ford converting.

Cardiff responded with a fine break from Wales centre Mason Grady who found his midfield partner Max Llewellyn.

He linked up with Young who was stopped by a high tackle but the move continued with prop Domachowski eventually powering over and Evans converted.

Ford levelled the scores with his first penalty before Evans and Priestland combined perfectly in midfield to release Adams.

Another flowing move almost resulted in a try for Wales squad member Teddy Williams but the lock was denied by the officials after they deemed Faletau’s final pass was forward.

Cardiff’s scrum dominance and relentless attacking pressure resulted in another Adams try after he latched on to a clever left-foot kick from Evans.

Sale also suffered a double blow on the stroke of half-time as prop Nick Schonert was shown a yellow card for persistent set-piece offences.

Cardiff took a 12-point advantage into the second half and continued their scrum dominance which allowed Priestland to slot over a long-range penalty.

Grady again displayed his athleticism with a fine burst down the left hand side to emphasise why Warren Gatland capped him during the Six Nations.

Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams escaped any sanction on an off-the ball challenge on opposite number Gus Warr, while Sale were not penalised for a robust tackle on Llewellyn.

Sale responded with a well-worked try by wing Roebuck while Ford’s conversion and penalty brought the visitors to within five points of Cardiff.

That soon became a two-point advantage as replacement hooker Ashman drove over and Ford converted.

Cardiff were shell-shocked as they initially struggled to recover from the replacement of the outstanding front-row trio of Domachowski, Liam Belcher and Keiron Assiratti.

The home side regained their composure and the lead with an Evans penalty which proved the match-winner.

It was a slender advantage going into the final minutes but vital turnovers from James Botham and Kristian Dacey kept Sale at bay and sealed a famous victory for Dai Young’s side and provide a fitting way to mark the memory and legacy of Thomas.

Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young: “It has been an emotional and awful week.

“It was a fitting tribute at the start and demonstrated how much Peter meant to us all. Everybody wanted to be a part of it and show what he meant to us.

“His contribution, generosity and drive is unrivalled and he leaves a massive void which I personally think will not get filled.

“He was the heartbeat of the club and whenever it was in trouble, Peter stood up. We are indebted to him.

“That performance was missing one thing, Peter watching it. But it was a fantastic tribute to him and hopefully his family could see how much he meant to us.”

Cardiff: Rhys Priestland; Owen Lane, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, Josh Adams; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Keiron Assiratti, Lopeti Timani, Teddy Williams, Josh Turnbull (capt), James Botham, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Rhys Carré, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Thomas Young, James Ratti, Lloyd Williams, Ben Thomas

Sale: Joe Carpenter; Thomas Roebuck, Robert du Preez, Manu Tuilagi, Tom O’Flaherty; George Ford, Gus Warr; Bevan Rodd, Akker van der Merwe, Nick Schonert, Jean-Luc du Preez, Jonny Hill, Jono Ross, Ben Curry (capt), Dan du Preez.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Simon McIntyre, Coenie Oosthuizen, Josh Beaumont, Sam Dugdale, Raffi Quirke, Sam James, Arron Reed

Referee: Luc Ramos (France)

Assistant referees: Evan Urruzmendi & Kevin Bralley (France)

TMO: Patrick Dellac (France)