Shawn van Rensburg was outstanding for Bridgend

The right wing pinned his ears back and aquaplaned over the try line from four metres out despite being tackled by Morgan. Warlow, putting his disappointing performance with the boot for Wales A behind him, struck an excellent conversion from tight on the touchline.

With half-time looming, Cardiff built the pressure with the forwards driving ahead and setting up phase after phase. Finally the ball was released, swinging right before switching back to Gareth Thomas - playing at inside centre due to Pieter Muller's injury - on the charge.

The Wales wing, whose place may be under threat against Scotland, placed his marker for inclusion with a bullocking run that left Bridgend tacklers sprawling in his wake.

Thomas lofted a speculative pass left, finding fellow centre Jamie Robinson outside him. The No 13 drew last defender Peters before shipping it to Morgan who eased over. Jenkins made no mistake with the conversion to tie the score.

Grateful

Cardiff redoubled their efforts, led up front by the superb openside Martyn Williams who was in his element, with Emyr Lewis never far behind. The pressure told and Jenkins was able to finish the half with a successful penalty kick.

Both sides came on for the second half in fresh shirts, but Jenkins continued where he'd left off by slotting another penalty.

A minute later Warlow hoisted a testing up-and-under that the isolated Williams failed to deal with under extreme pressure from Bridgend centre Adrian Durston.

The ball was fielded by the grateful Jamie Ringer who cantered under the posts without a hand being laid on him.

Warlow put the visitors 14-13 ahead with the conversion, prompting Cardiff to bring on Wales captain Dai Young in place of Ken Fourie to steady the ship.

A fine run from Nick Walne almost produced a try but the Bridgend defence was caught offside and Jenkins slotted the penalty to put Cardiff back into the lead.

Jinking

The match settled down into a tactical kicking battle between the two No 10s, Warlow emerging with honours even against Wales incumbent Jenkins.

Huw Harries marshalled Bridgend well from scrum-half and they enjoyed the majority of possession, but found it difficult to make much headway against a canny Cardiff defence.

Yet there was no stopping Maama Molitika from five metres when the ball was recyled swiftly after a jinking run from Warlow. Harries popped the pass and the Tongan, on for Ringer, burst through to score. Warlow added the extra points.

Cardiff refused to panic and with seven minutes remaining, they marched up the field and forced Bridgend to concede a penalty that Jenkins converted to close the gap to 19-21.

Yet Bridgend pinned their hosts back into the bottom corner of the field with a series of lineouts, which had worked well all night, in injury time, before Warlow fittingly had the last word with a dropped goal.

Scorers - Cardiff: Try: C Morgan. Con: Jenkins. Pens: Jenkins 4.
Bridgend: Tries: Peters, Ringer, Molitika. Cons: Warlow 3. Drop Goal: Warlow.
Att: 4,000

Cardiff: R Williams, Walne, Robinson, G Thomas, C Morgan, Jenkins, R Powell, John, A Lewis, Fourie, Moore, Voyle, Kacala, M Williams, E Lewis.
Replacements: Ellis, Rayer, Tait, Quinnell, O Williams, Young, Humphreys.

Bridgend: Taumalolo, Hill, Devereux, Durston, Peters, Warlow, Harries, Price, Ferris, Griffiths, Clapham, Stephens, Bryan, Ringer, Van Rensburg.
Replacements: Lloyd, Molitika, Mustoe, Hawkins, Cull, Hewlett, D Jones.

Referee: P Adams (WRU).