CROSS Keys made it six out of six in all competitive games with a sublime bonus point away victory at Cardiff Arms Park that will give them enormous confidence going into two tough games at Pontypridd and Leinster A next week.
However, their wonderful victory playing total rugby was marred by a disgraceful punch-up involving several players from both sides in the dying seconds which saw replacement back rower Rhys Peebles sent off.
The ugly scenes were sparked by the home side's captain and openside flanker Jonathan Edwards ramming the ball in Peebles' face on the halfway line, in front of the squads from both teams.
An all mighty fist fight then ensued which saw some players who had been replaced re-enter the field of play as pure pandemonium broke out.
The game was held up for about five minutes for tempers to cool before referee Daniel Jones decided it was best to end the game to avoid any more violence.
There could be serious repercussions for some players on both sides and a Cardiff official had to soak up a pool of blood on the artificial pitch once the dust had settled.
It had been a niggly game which had seen Edwards and Keys scrum-half Ryan James sin binned early in the second half, the hosts may be finding it hard to take that they were being so comprehensively outplayed.
It certainly wasn't the way the Pandy Park side had wanted proceedings to come to an end because they had been superb from the off to humble and completely dominate a Cardiff side who had enjoyed a fine start to the season.
A tap penalty taken by Keys scrum-half James saw centre James Cordy-Redden nearly cross early on before in-form wing Nathan Trowbridge finished well in the corner, his try beautifully converted from the touchline by full-back Dorian Jones.
Cardiff No 10 Ceiron Thomas kicked a penalty but it was soon cancelled out.
The visitors upped a gear, playing some sparkling rugby, unlucky not to score on more than one occasion, openside Scott Matthews making a tremendous break as his side faced injury concerns with promising young fly-half Angus O’Brien and Trowbridge having to leave the field, replaced by Phil Williams and Kristian Baller respectively.
At the interval Keys led by seven points – but it should have been far more.
They got their reward just seconds into the second half when wing Elliot Jones charged down Thomas’ attempted clearance before diving on the ball to score an unconverted try.
Outstanding number eight Adam Powell stretched their lead with a superb finish after some fine driving play by lock Dan Hodge and blindside Reuben Tucker.
Dorian Jones converted and extended their lead in the 49th minute with another penalty as Keys threatened to run riot.
Another Keys penalty put them out of sight in the 55th minute, leading 28-3.
They got their bonus point a quarter of an hour before the end when Dorian Jones scored a fine individual try by chipping over and gathering to score their fourth try which he converted.
Gutsy tighthead Anthony ‘Vinny’ Lott put in a real hard shift for the visitors, replaced with just over 20 minutes to go by Nathan Buck.
A towering drop goal by Dorian Jones saw him finish with 23 points before Cardiff got a consolation converted try.
Cardiff scorers: Try – Sam Feehan (79), Conversion – Jack Maynard (79), Penalty – Ceiron Thomas (12) Cross Keys scorers: Tries – Nathan Trowbridge (9), Elliot Jones (41), Adam Powell (44), Dorian Jones (65), Conversions – Dorian Jones (9) (44), (65), Penalties – D Jones (17), (49), (55), Drop goal – Dorian Jones (75).
Referee: Daniel Jones (WRU)
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