CROSS Keys bounced back from their 55-26 drubbing away at the hands of RGC 1404 last time out to dish out a hammering to Cardiff, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

The hosts racked up a bonus point win and were full value for their emphatic win, outscoring the capital city side by five tries to one.

A fairly even opening saw the hosts’ No 10 Joss Prosser slot a penalty before it was cancelled out by opposite number Gareth Thompson.

Some fine attacking play by the forwards paved the way for a penalty which Prosser put over to regain the lead after 21 minutes.

Keys began to get the upper hand in the second quarter but squandered kickable penalties by going for broke and failing to extend their advantage.

Going back to basics. the ever reliable Prosser stuck his third penalty to give the home side a thoroughly deserved 9-3.

And Keys extended their advantage to 13-points just before the interval when some fine work up the right touchline by openside flanker Joe Thomas put number eight Garin Price in for a converted try.

There was still time for Cardiff to launch a rare attack, Keys centre Jarryd Sage being yellow carded for tackling a visiting player when a try looked likely.

The Blue and Blacks pounded the home side’s try-line and were rewarded when centre Will Rees-Hole finished well under the posts for a try which was converted by captain Thompson.

Keys came out battling in the second half and stretched further ahead when impressive No 7 Joe Thomas crossed for an unconverted try after his side had dominated early possession and territory.

From the restart, the hosts scored a peach of a try through scrum-half James Leadbeater bagged a converted touchdown after wing Mathew Powell had put in a clever kick ahead which he had gathered.

The visitors’ day got far worse when centre Adam Jones was sent off for hitting Keys skipper and hooker Darren Hughes in the face.

He made them pay immediately when he crossed for their bonus point try, which was again converted, before Powell rounded things off with a breakaway touchdown.

Prosser’s conversion left him with a 17-point haul.

Cross Keys: C Shephard, M Powell, L Andrews, J Sage (B Nightingale 68), L Lewis, J Prosser, J Leadbeater (R Pritchard 78), G Carpenter (R Cornock 71), D Hughes (capt) (R Jones 77), S Evans (T Hansen 77), T Lampard (I Jones 58), H Reader, J Skinner, J Thomas, G Price (A Gibson 70).

Cardiff: L Ap Myrddin, J Phillips, A Jones, W Rees-Hole, C Howells (A Jiwa-Waji 58), G Thompson (capt), G Watkin (C Morris 57), K Brown (F Young 59), I Jenkins (C Tarrant 57), K Assaratti (A Court 78), J Murphy (K Smith 63), J Down, T Daley, T Wilson, J Miles (B White 63).

Cross Keys scorers: Tries: G Price, J Thomas, J Leadbeater, D Hughes, M Powell; Cons: J Prosser (4); Pens: Prosser (3).

Cardiff scorers: Try: W Rees-Hole; Con: G Thompson; Pen: G Thompson.

Star man: Joe Thomas (Cross Keys)