Matt Allen opened the scoring for Cardiff

Glasgow responded positively with a penalty from Tommy Hayes.

But the Welshmen wasted no time in hitting back with an identical score by Nicky Robinson, who became involved in a personal game of penalty ping-pong with Hayes before the interval - with the visitors turning round 14-6 ahead.

The pattern continued after the restart with Hayes slotting his third penalty from 45m after the Cardiff back line sneaked offside.

But slack defending at the other end just a minute later resulted in another crucial touchdown for the Arms Park men.

Robinson's chip appeared to be covered by Glen Metcalfe, but he waited a split-second too long before attempting to scoop it up - allowing Nick Walne to dash in to steal the ball and dive over.

Robinson then banged over another penalty from wide on the left after wing Jon Steel was guilty of holding on to the ball too long in contact, but Hayes kept Glasgow in the hunt with another long-range effort.

The visitors thought they had bagged a third try seven minutes from the end in the wake of a 90m kick and dash, but the referee ruled it had not been touched down properly by Allen.

The Warriors surged to the other end to claim a dramatic score, substitute scrum-half Kenny Sinclair scuttling in under the crossbar to give Hayes an easy conversion which cut the gap to just two points.

Cardiff kept their cool under pressure, however, to head back south with the points which could be so important in the title shake-up.

Glasgow: Try: K Sinclair. Con: K Sinclair. Pens: T Hayes (4).

Cardiff: Tries: M Allen, N Walne. Con: N Robinson. Pens: N Robinson (4).

Glasgow: G Metcalfe; J Steel, A Bulloch, A Henderson, R Kerr; T Hayes, G Beveridge; C Blades, G Bulloch (capt), L Harrison, G Perrett, A Hall, R Reid, D Macfadyen, J Petrie.
Reps: A Hall, D Hilton, C Stewart, R Maxton, K Sinclair, J McLaren, C Howarth.

Cardiff: R Williams; N Walne, M Allen, P Muller, C Morgan; N Robinson, A Booth; P Rogers, G Woods, K Fourie, A Jones, J Tait (capt), R Sowden-Taylor, M Williams, D Baugh.
Reps: G Powell, A Lewis, L Tait, R Appleyard, R Powell, N Jenkins, A Sullivan.

Referee: J Steele (Dumfries).