Director of Rugby Phil Davies admitted derby day success over Newport Gwent Dragons was a 'valuable' one for his Blues as they opened 2014 with a 21-13 win at a wet and windy Arms Park.
Full back Leigh Halfpenny kicked 15 points as a huge second half effort from the home pack –with Gethin Jenkins making his return - laid the platform for a crucial home victory.
The result avenged the RaboDirect PRO12 defeat at Rodney Parade less than a week ago, but for Davies it was more about starting the New Year on the front foot.
He said: “It was a valuable win for us. It was valuable that we won and it was valuable that we kept the bonus point away from them.
“It wasn’t a pretty win. It was interesting to watch at times, but what was evident was the tenacity and control we showed up front, in the second half in particular.
“The first 30 minutes of the game was a bit more like what we wanted to achieve, but after that things went a little bit wayward.
“But what we did do in the second half was get control of the ball up front. We carried hard off the edges and built pressure for Leigh to kick the goals. But we can be tidier than that.
“The result was all-important today,” he added. “We have got a bit to do in the league and we know that, but slowly but surely we have been getting better and it’s about control of the ball.
“We are getting plenty of possession, when we get the opportunities we have got to finish them off. We will keep building the player’s confidence and skills to be able to do that.”
Davies gave special praise to the home pack and believed all the replacements made an impact.
“I thought Josh Navidi was magnificent today and I thought Ellis Jenkins was when he came on too,” he said.
“Sam Hobbs has been leading us well and Gethin Jenkins, when he comes on with his experience, made an impact. I thought the replacements added to us.
“I feel it is a sign of our growing maturity as a team and forward pack that we showed control at key periods.”