Kyriacou delighted with Cardiff Blues' resolve

Leading up to the game on Friday, Kyriacou had urged his younger players to seize the opportunity with the likes of Gethin Jenkins and Cory Allen away on international duty with Wales.

But while winger Harry Davies grabbed a debut try to level the scores early on, Newcastle Falcons raced into a 21-7 half-time lead.

The Blues have been struggling in the GUINNESS PRO12 with their solitary victory this season coming back on the opening day against Zebre.

However they were left toasting a confidence-boosting victory after turning the tide after the break.

Tries from Ellis Jenkins and Rory Watt-Jones put them back in it, before Simon Humberstone booted them into a narrow one-point lead with a penalty.

And with the senior players also putting their hands up, Kyriacou believes better times are around the corner.

"We're absolutely stoked with that result because 16 of that 23 match day squad have come through the Blues academy system," he told the Cardiff Blues official website.

"It's great for the region and the players will gain a lot of experience and heart from that performance.

"I was really happy for some of our senior fringe players too who stepped it up in that second half and put in a good display.

"There were certainly a few choice words said at half-time. We were very soft first half. We fell off tackles and weren't sticking on them, our line speed was not good enough and we highlighted those points.

"The players certainly seemed to listen. We cranked the intensity up and produced the physicality we know we can play. It was very good to watch."

Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12