Cardiff shrugged off the disappointment of defeat at Swansea last Saturday to destroy Bridgend with a scintillating display.

They then had to wait 10 agonising minutes before discovering Swansea had beaten league leaders Neath at St Helens, thus keeping the Blue and Blacks' title hopes alive.

Neil Jenkins, starting a game for Cardiff for the first time since March last year, announced his return with a devastating break from a scrum on halfway, sending flying wing Rhys Williams in for a try which Jenkins converted.

But within two minutes Bridgend centre Gareth Thomas capitalised on a turnover to race in for a try against the club he left last summer.

Craig Warlow and Jenkins exchanged penalties before Thomas crossed again, giving the visitors a seven-point lead, but Williams responded with two superb tries in a minute.

The first followed brilliant handling by brothers Jamie and Nick Robinson, but the second came from an 80-yard kick-and-chase.

Williams just managed to touch down short of the dead-ball line before crashing into an advertising hoarding.

Cardiff put the game out of the visitors' reach with two more tries early in the second half.

Another Jenkins break and a well-timed pass by Nick Robinson sent hooker Greg Woods on a 45-yard gallop to the posts, while hard working centre Matt Allen went over wide out.

Jenkins received a standing ovation when he made way for Iestyn Harris, but opposite number Craig Warlow had a less happy departure, carried off on a stretcher with his right leg in a brace.

Veteran John Devereux, one of a clutch of Bridgend replacements, forced his way over, with another sub, Cerith Rees, converting.

But Harris got on the scoresheet with a penalty, wrapping up the scoring.

Cardiff: N Robinson; N Walne, J Robinson, M Allen, R Williams; N Jenkins, A Booth; P Rogers, G Woods, K Fourie, C Quinnell, A Jones, R Appleyard, E Lewis (capt), R Sowden-Taylor.
Reps: D Young, J Humphreys, L Tait, M Williams, R Powell, I Harris, L Roberts.

Bridgend: A Durston; R Mustoe, J Funnell, G Thomas (capt), Daniel Jones; C Warlow, J Hewlett; C Loader, G Williams, J Thiel, P Clapham, Deiniol Jones, R Bryan, J Ringer, S van Rensburg.
Reps: H Harries, C Rees, J Devereux, A Joy, A Griffiths, O Lloyd, Dean.

Referee: Colin Saunders (WRU).