WELSH PREMIERSHIP Caerphilly (9) 32 Tries: R Howells, D Davies. Cons: L Richards (2). Pens: Richards (6). Cardiff (38) 48 Tries: R Williams, D Dewdney, A Jones, D van Vuuren, R Powell, I Harris. Cons: Harris (6). Pens: Harris (2).

Caerphilly's shock midweek win at Swansea boosted their hopes of finishing off the bottom of the league this season, but Ebbw Vale's victory and this home defeat keep them rock bottom.

Iestyn Harris was their tormentor-in-chief, the former league fly-half contributing 23 points, including conversions of all six Cardiff tries as he passed 200 points for the season.

Home fly-half Luke Richards kept the score respectable with 22 points from the boot, including conversions of second-half tries from Ryan Howells and Darren Davies.

Cardiff are now just two points behind third-placed Newport as the league's protracted run-in continues.

A storming first half from the Blue and Blacks ensured the result was never in doubt, five tries from Rhys Williams, Dean Dewdney, Adam Jones, Donovan van Vuuren and Ryan Powell helping them to a 9-38 scoreline at the break.

We played well with the wind in the first half, but it was a bit loose afterwards Cardiff's John Tait

Mark Ring inspired Caerphilly at half-time, though, and they had the better of the second period, Howells and Davies' tries only being answered by a sumptuous score from that man Harris.

Cardiff's lacklustre final 40 minutes was not helped by Heino Senekal. The replacement lock was sin binned just 10 seconds after taking the field.

Blue and Blacks lock John Tait said: "We played well with the wind in the first half, but it was a bit loose afterwards.

"There were some good tries but we were disappointed in the end.

"You're just playing for pride right now and it's tough for the boys who don't have contracts next season."

Caerphilly: Justin Thomas; Ryan Howells, Rob Higgitt, Jarrod Murphy, Taunaholo Taufahema; Luke Richards, Sione Tuipulotu; Rob Bilton, Chris Ferris (capt), Geraint Liddon, Darren Davies, Mark Workman, Joe El-Abd, Simon Grainger, Gareth Jones.
Replacements: Lee Manning, Tim Carless, Paul Jones, Neil Watkins, Allen Chilten, Roddy Boobyer, Fionn McLoughlin.

Cardiff: Donavan van Vuuren; Dean Dewdney, Nick Walne, Matt Allen, Rhys Williams; Iestyn Harris, Ryan Powell; Kenneth Fourie, Lewis Collins, Ben Evans, Adam Jones, Luke Tait, Jim Brownrigg, Dan McShane, Robin Sowden-Taylor
Replacements: John Yapp, T Rhys Thomas, John Tait, Emyr Lewis, Richard Smith, Nick Robinson, Nick Macleod.

Ref: David Davies (Llanbradach)