Cardiff ran in six tries in the last 12 minutes for a comfortable victory over already-relegated Cross Keys.

The win is a huge boost in their quest to retain the Welsh-Scottish league title.

As at Caerphilly last week, the champions stuttered and spluttered for the first quarter, with only a Lee Davies penalty to show for their territorial domination

The Blue and Blacks were also grateful to lock Craig Quinnell who appeared in midfield to batter his way over.

The arrival of Lions scrum-half Rob Howley to replace the bloodied Ryan Powell sparked a little life into the backs.

Centre Gareth Thomas crossed, but the only other first-half score came from number eight Emyr Lewis at a close range scrum.

With the wind behind them Cardiff began to throw the ball about with greater authority.

Left-wing Craig Morgan, frustrated at his lack of opportunity before the break, brushed aside some tentative tackling to reach the corner.

Jamie Robinson, Andrew Lewis, Quinnell again and Rhys Williams (twice) also raced in, before Morgan rounded things off in injury time.

Cardiff skipped conversion attempts in a bid to boost their try count.

Keys never gave up and showed a willingness to run the ball themselves, with half backs Seremia Bai and Tom Walsh particularly impressive.

Teams -

Cardiff: Rhys Williams; Owain Ashman, Jamie Robinson, Gareth Thomas, Craig Morgan; Lee Davies, Ryan Powell; Peter Rogers, Andrew Lewis, Gary Powell, Craig Quinnell, John Tait, Gregori Kacala, Emyr Lewis, Martyn Williams.
Replacements: Robert Howley, Mike Rayer, Pieter Muller, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Owain Williams, David Young, Jonathan Humphreys.

Cross Keys: Bushell, Arnold, Bowen, McCarthy, Crane, Bai, Walsh, Evans, Hicks, Crimmins, Stewart, Kelly, D Davies, Brown, Watkins. Replacements: Webb, Ellis, Stroud, M Price, M Jones, Howarth, McDonald.

Referee: Tony Rowlands (Treorchy)