Cardiff eventually romped to an expected victory over Caerphilly but it wasn't without a first-half struggle.

Two early penalties from Luke Richards put the home side six points up and Cardiff were forced to make an early substitution when Nick Walne left the field with a foot injury to be replaced by Owain Ashman.

This was in addition to their late change in the starting line up that brought in Gareth Thomas for the other wing, Craig Morgan.

A kick ahead from Roddy Boobyer offered Caerphilly the possibility of an early try but the ball bounced into touch in goal on the firm ground.

Richards increased the lead for the Castlemen with his third successful penalty.

Cardiff suffered further setbacks when they lost Mike Voyle and Ryan Powell through injury, Steve Moore and Kevin Ellis taking their places.

Davies missed a second kickable penalty for Cardiff who finally put together a decent handling movement, started by Emyr Lewis inside his own 22.

Outrageous

Strong Caerphilly tackling kept them out until prop Aled Jones missed a tackle on Lee Davies and the outside-half sprinted over for a try that he converted himself.

Play switched to the other end where Richards charged down a kick from Davies and leapt on the ball for a try that he converted himself to give the home side a nine-point lead at the break.

But Cardiff dragged themselves back into the contest when Martyn Williams and Owain Ashman grabbed two quick tries shortly after the resumption.

Back on the field after running repairs, Ryan Powell beat the defence at close quarters to register a fourth try, Davis adding the extra points.

Now it was all Cardiff and Ashman plucked a high pass from Thomas out of the air to speed over for his second and his side's fifth try.

Mike Rayer scored the try of the match when he followed an outrageous dummy with a 30 metre sprint to the try line before adding the conversion points, before Andrew Lewis completed the rout late on.

Caerphilly: Tries: Richards. Cons: Richards. Pens: Richards 4.

Cardiff: Tries: G. Powell, Davies, A. Lewis, M. Williams, Ashman 2, Rayer. Cons: Davies 3, Rayer 3. Pens: Davies.

Att: 2,500

Teams -

Caerphilly: John; Marshall, Boobyer, Hawkins, Lewis; Richards, Jacobs; A Jones, J Hughes, J Thomas, Workman, N Jones, Mocolutu, G Jones, A Williams.
Replacements: Bridges, B Watkins, Bidgood, Hocking, Manning, Bolton.

Cardiff: R Williams; Walne, Robinson, Muller, C Morgan; Davies, R Powell; John, A Lewis, Young, Quinnell, Voyle, Fyvie, M Williams, E. Lewis.
Replacements: Ashman, Rayer, Ellis, O Williams, Rogers, Moore, Humphreys.

Referee: David R Davies (Llanbrathach)