Cardiff kept their season alive and avenged last weekend's cup defeat with a storming second-half performance at the Arms Park.

The Blue and Blacks now join their victims at the top of the league, but Swansea have a game in hand and a much better try count.

Teenager Gavin Henson, starting a match at fly-half for Swansea for the first time, boosted their confidence with an early penalty and, although Neil Jenkins equalised, a second kick by the Wales under-21 cap restored the lead.

Swansea, winning a stream of possession, were unable to capitalise and when Cardiff finally began to win a few line-outs, they got into a position from where the reliable Jenkins again slotted over a penalty.

But Henson had the last word of the first half, a 50-yard effort with the ball dropping onto the bar and bouncing over to give the visitors a 9-6 lead at the interval.

Cardiff opened the second period with threatening runs by Rhys Williams and Paul Jones, but again had to settle for a Jenkins penalty as the game regressed into a war of attrition.

But midway through the half, probes by Rob Howley and replacement Greg Kacala dragged the Swansea defence to one flank and a long Jenkins pass sent winger Jones over on the other.

And when South African prop Kenneth Fourie scored his first try for the club from a close range line out, which- Jenkins converted, it looked as though Cardiff had wrapped matters up.

However, Swansea hit back in a thrilling finale, with flanker Paul Moriarty going over - but there was not enough time left for them to achieve a third successive win at this ground.

Scorers - Cardiff:Tries: P Jones, Fourie. Con: Jenkins. Pens: Jenkins 3.

Swansea: Try: Moriarty. Pens: Henson 3.

Att: 7,000

Teams - Cardiff: R Williams, P Jones, J Robinson, G Thomas, C Morgan, N Jenkins, R Howley, S John, J Humphreys, D Young, C Quinnell, M Voyle, D Baugh, M Williams, E Lewis.
Replacements: P Muller, L Davies, R Powell, A Lewis, S Moore, G Kacala, K Fourie,

Swansea: K Morgan, R Rees, M Taylor, S Gibbs (capt), M Robinson, G Henson, R Jones, D Morris, G Jenkins, B Evans, T Maullin, A Moore, P Moriarty, L Jones, D Thomas.
Replacements: S Martens, M Brayle, C Anthony, G Smith, J Griffiths

Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (WRU)