By David Parsons
On an emotional Saturday night at Cardiff Arms Park, Josh Adams scored twice to steer the home side, 28-27, into the quarter-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup and pay the perfect tribute to the club’s former chairman and benefactor Peter Thomas.
A huge crowd joined the current team, former players and members of Thomas’ family on the pitch for a minute’s silence followed by a minute of applause to remember the man who kept the region alive through his support.
https://twitter.com/Cardiff_Rugby/status/1642477367179329536?s=20
The main stand at the ground was also christened ‘The Peter Thomas Stand’ on the night before the team went out and beat one of the top two teams in the English Premiership.
Cardiff remain on course for a potential third Challenge Cup title and will now head to Benetton Rugby this weekend in the quarter-finals.
Not just impressive but more importantly very touching and appropriate by @Cardiff_Rugby
RIP Peter Thomas pic.twitter.com/65LB9WUa5Y— Huw G Jones (@HuwGJones310) April 1, 2023
“It was a fitting tribute to Peter at the start of the game and it demonstrated exactly how much he meant to us all. Everybody wanted to be a pat of it,” said director of rugby Dai Young.
“His contribution, his generosity and his drive was unmatched and will never be rivalled. He leaves a massive void that I believe is not going to be filled.
“He was definitely the heartbeat of the club and he drove the standards. Whenever this club was in trouble, Peter always stood up and we are all hugely indebted to him for what he has done for the club.
“He took time to get to know everyone at the club and his death has cut us all deep. That performance was a fantastic tribute to him and hopefully his family could see how much he really meant to us all.
“We were excellent in the first half and very good in he second. The players were excellent and I’ve always been confident that on our day we can beat anybody.
“Consistency has been the thing that has eluded us and to win games like this every player has to be eight out of 10. They managed that.”
An emotional time at the Arms Park for Cardiff Rugby.
Director of Rugby, Dai Young, leaves the pitch in tears after a tribute to Peter Thomas. pic.twitter.com/KSGPTkZiKg
— Peter Gillibrand (@GillibrandPeter) April 1, 2023
As well as the two tries from Wales and British & Irish Lions wing Adams, both created by some wonderful moments from outside half Jarrod Evans, loose head prop Corey Domachowski also crossed the Sale line.
A late penalty from Evans eventually sealed the win after Sale had regained the lead at .
Sale scored tries through Akker van der Merwe, Thomas Roebuck and Ewan Ashman. with George Ford kicking 12 points. They led 27-25 after 63 minutes when Ashman scored before Evans kept his cool to land the match winning kick with 10 minutes to go.
https://twitter.com/Cardiff_Rugby/status/1642282554311991299?s=20