Well all good things must come to an end, and so Cardiff City's unbeaten run was topped and tailed by a resurgent Bristol City side out to try and wrest the EKL from the their rivals.

Bristol brought along probably the strongest quartet of boys yet to appear in the EKL and the Cardiff boys had their hands full. Ramzi slotted the opener, bursting through the defence with our first attack, but the reply was instant, Bristol squaring the game with their first shot.

Better was to come for Bristol as the next two shots flew in from distance too, and Cardiff were facing an unaccustomed 3-1 early deficit. The half didn't get any better from there, as Bristol's boys found the back of the korf plenty of times, and it was all Susan, Rachel and Zoe could do to keep us in the hunt.

Half time came at 10-5, but the second half started with a much more determined City approach, and gradually the blues began to claw their way back into the game. A superb period of defensive pressure held Bristol scoreless while the girls pegged the lead back. Finally a runner from Susan tied the scores at 10 each, a brilliant comeback and a real show of guts from the Cardiff VIII.

Even when Bristol finally cracked the City defence to retake the lead the answer was immediate, Ceri levelling for the second time at 11-all. Unfortunately that was as good as it got, as Bristol found their stride again to land some late longshots and pull away in the last 10 or so minutes. Final score 11-15.

The return leg will be eagerly awaited by both sides, Bristol will be hoping for more of the same, especially the shart-shooting from the boys, whereas Cardiff will have to produce more of the comeback grit they showed in the early part of the second half if they are to overturn this defeat.

Thanks to Josh for reffing us yet again.

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