WELSH PREMIERSHIP Cardiff (7) 30 Tries: N Robinson, D Dewdney, R Smith. Cons: Robinson (3). Pens: Robinson (2). DG: N Macleod. Pontypridd (14) 21 Tries: B Davey, S James, R Fussell. Cons: N Jenkins (3). Att: 3,500

The Arms Park crowd saw their side slip to a 7-14 half-time deficit, with Pontypridd tries coming from Brett Davey and Shaun James.

But 17 points from Nicky Robinson - playing in the unfamiliar position of full-back - eventually helped Cardiff to victory.

In avenging the league defeat at Sardis Road earlier this season, Cardiff denied Ponty the chance to climb above Llanelli into fifth spot in the league.

Both sides enjoyed the sunshine and entered into the end-of-season spirit, spurning kicks at goal.

Both opening tries were the result of tapped penalties. Midway through the first period, Cardiff lock Dan McShane fed Dean Dewdney and the Zimbabwean winger raced through unopposed to the posts.

Within five minutes Davey, making his farewell appearance for Pontypridd before joining the new Gwent regional side, caught the home defence similarly wrong-footed for the visitors' opening score.

Ponty went ahead when lively flanker Richard Parks broke free of a succession of tackles and battered his way towards the Cardiff 22.

James' try gave Ponty the half-time advantage

Parks spun the ball right and wing Emyr Lewis found centre Shaun James inside him to score.

Cardiff hit back shortly after the break, young fly-half Nick Macleod's kick and gather paving the way for scrum-half Richard Smith to cross underneath the posts.

Robinson kicked a penalty before forcing his way over for a try, but Ponty hit back with wing Richard Fussell racing in after good work by veteran number eight Dale McIntosh.

Jenkins converted brilliantly from the touchline, as he warmed up for his 100th and final Wales appearance on Saturday.

But another Robinson penalty nudged Cardiff further in front and they wrapped things up with a magnificent 45-yard drop goal from the promising Macleod.

Cardiff: Nick Robinson; Lee Abdul, Nick Walne, Pieter Muller (capt), Dean Dewdney; Nick Macleod, Richard Smith; John Yapp, T Rhys Thomas, Tim Payne, Dan McShane, James Goode, Jim Brownrigg, James Malpas, Robin Sowden-Taylor.
Replacements: Dai Young, Lewis Collins, Adam Jones, Nick Hampson, Gareth McCarthy, Matt Allen, Leon Andrews.

Pontypridd: B Davey; E Lewis, S James, J Bryant, R Fussell; N Jenkins, P John (capt); G Cox, M Rees, D Bell, B Cockbain, G Harrington, R Parks, D McIntosh, W O'Connor.
Replacements: G Baber, J Lewis, M Nutthall, L Phillips, N Hennessey, L Verling, L Beach.

Ref: Nigel Williams (Bryncoch)