The cool head of Neil Jenkins guided Cardiff to a narrow win in a disappointing Welsh-Scottish League game at the Arms Park.

Cardiff trailed twice against Ebbw Vale, but 20 minutes from the end replacement flanker Dan Baugh, putting in another dynamic display, raced 25 metres for an individual try that woke up Cardiff's lowest crowd of the season.

Jenkins then took control with raking diagonal kicks that put the lively Gwent visitors on the back foot.

His fourth penalty of the game widened the gap to 22-16 and then on the stroke of full-time, he raced up the right touchline and his inside pass put lock Steve Moore over in the corner for the final try.

Ebbw Vale will take heart from their best performance of a season in which they have only won twice.

In an uninspiring first-half both teams struggled to come to terms with the conditions and the first try did not come until the 39th minute.

Jenkins had already kicked three penalty goals but spurned the chance of a fourth with a quick tap penalty that sent Owain Williams charging into the heart of the opposition defence.

Quick ball to the left allowed Jamie Robinson to give the scoring pass for Craig Morgan's 12 try in 13 games.

That gave Cardiff a half-time lead of 14-6.

Vale's only scores had been two penalties by Jason Strange and he added a third early in the second half.

Then Vale shocked the champions with a soft try by outstanding scrum-half Richard Smith after Gareth Thomas had made a hash of an attempted clearance.

Strange's conversion from the touchline gave the visitors a deserved 16-14 lead after 53 minutes, but after that they never threatened.

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Scorers - Cardiff: Tries: C Morgan, S Moore, D Baugh. Pens: N Jenkins 4

Ebbw Vale: Tries: R Smith. Con: J Strange. Pens: Strange 3

Teams - Cardiff: O Ashman, N Walne, J Robinson, M Rayer, C Morgan, N Jenkins, R Powell, P Rogers, J Humphreys, K Fourie, S Moore, J Tait, O Williams, W Fyvie, E Lewis
Replacements: K Ellis, L Davies, G Thomas, D Baugh, M Voyle, A Lewis, D Geraghty

Ebbw Vale: A Harries, S John, R Shorney, P Matthews, A Wagstaff, J Strange, R Smith, I Thomas, L Phillips, D Penisini, G Llewellyn, N Edwards, G Green, C Billen, S Williams
Replacements: A Phillips, B Morris, M Jones, T Morris, G Betts, A Williams, Landry

Referee: Huw F Lewis (Pontypridd)

Att: 4,111