Cardiff Blues 58 Connacht 0:CONNACHT suffered their biggest ever Magners League defeat, a humiliating 58-0 whitewash, in Cardiff last night, when the Irish province were blown away by a seven-try first-half blitz at the Arms Park.
The previous worst was in 2007, the 49-point loss to Edinburgh.
Connacht suffered a first-half onslaught as Leigh Halfpenny grabbed an impressive double.
Jamie Roberts, Rhys Thomas, Gareth Thomas, Maama Molitika and Taufa'ao Filise also dotted down. And outhalf Ceri Sweeney grabbed two tries in a 21-point tally that capped an awful night for Michael Bradley's men.
The former London Wasps star Mike Roberts made his competitive debut for Connacht on the wing while lock Michael Swift returned to the pack.
Connacht trailed by 10 points after six minutes. They fell behind after just three to Sweeney's close-range penalty before Roberts glided through the Connacht defence to score the first try, Sweeney adding the extras.
Connacht outhalf Andy Dunne missed a routine penalty and the visitors couldn't cope with the pace, power and quality of the Blues attack.
The hosts made their possession count when Sweeney collected Molitika's pass to finish off a glorious free-flowing move under the posts. Sweeney converted.
Cardiff kept their foot on the accelerator and Halfpenny capitalised for the third try on 32 minutes following good approach work by Roberts and Spice before the 19-year-old wing scorched in for his second and a bonus-point victory for Blues a minute later.
Connacht's cause was not helped when number eight Colm Rigney received a yellow card for persistent offending. And the Blues availed of the one-man advantage with three tries in five minutes as the two Thomases and flanker Molitika powered over for a 46-point interval lead.
Sweeney crashed over for his second try just two minutes after the interval and Filise rounded off the nine-try rout in the final minute. Connacht's season does not get any easier as Leinster arrive in Galway next weekend.
Scorers - Cardiff Blues:Tries: Roberts, Sweeney (2), Halfpenny (2), R Thomas, G Thomas, Molitika, Filise Cons:Sweeney (4), N Robinson Pen:Sweeney
CARDIFF BLUES:L Halfpenny; R Mustoe, J Robinson (T Shanklin 52), J Roberts, G Thomas; C Sweeney (N Robinson 55), J Spice (R Rees 35); J Yapp, T Rhys Thomas (Rhys Williams 40), G Powell (T Filise 56), D Jones, P Tito (capt), M Molitika (X Rush 40), R Sowden-Taylor, A Powell (S Morgan 41).
CONNACHT:F Carr; A Wynne (L Bibo 55), J Hearty, M Deane, M Roberts; A Dunne, F Murphy (K Campbell 53); J Lyne (R Loughney 55), A Flavin (S Cronin 46), R Morris; A Browne, M Swift; J Muldoon (capt, M McCarthy 52), C Rigney, J O'Connor.
Not used:A Farley, I Keatley.
Attendance:7,542
Referee:Carlo Damasco (Italy)
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