Pro12: Cardiff Blues 30-35 Glasgow Warriors

Josh Strauss tries to go past Kristian Dacey

Glasgow overhauled brave Cardiff Blues then held out against the hosts' late rally to secure a hard-fought bonus-point Pro12 win.

Blues led 17-15 at the break through Gavin Evans' try and Rhys Patchell's kicking.

Leone Nakarawa, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Ryan Grant and Jonny Gray went over for the visitors.

But Glasgow's indiscipline helped Patchell keep Blues in touch while they also earned a late penalty try.

A strong wind played a significant role in the game's pattern as Blues pinned Glasgow back in the opening period and the visitors benefitted after the break.

Having suffered a humiliating defeat against Zebre the previous weekend, Blues were glad to see Wales World Cup players Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins and Alex Cuthbert return.

Glasgow had Stuart Hogg, Mark Bennett, Finn Russell, Gray, Josh Strauss and Grant back.

Russell marked his return with an early penalty before three from Patchell.

The game's opening try fell to star Fiji lock Nakarawa, who launched himself from the back of a ruck to touch down.

The close-range effort was in stark contrast to Blues' first-half touch-down in which lock James Down's pass sent centre Evans over at the corner.

Patchell added a penalty before wing Naiyaravoro breezed through Blues' broken defence and Russell's conversion left Glasgow trailing by just two points at the break.

Rival fly-halves Patchell and Russell returned to their kicking duel after the break.

And despite replacement flanker Ryan Wilson being Glasgow's first sin-binning midway through the second period, the visitors were not to be denied.

Prop Grant got his reward for sustained pressure as the home defence again buckled.

And skipper Gray extended his side's lead by claiming the bonus-point try before Blues' late rally.

Full-back Hogg was deemed to have deliberately knocked on to thwart a Blues threat and referee Marius Mitrea awarded a penalty try.

Patchell's conversion put Blues within a converted try of victory with a minute left.

They retained possession for the next four minutes, but eventually ran out of options against a resolute defence.

Teams

Cardiff: Dan Fish; Alex Cuthbert, Rey Lee-Lo, Gavin Evans, Tom James; Rhys Patchell, Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins (capt), Kristian Dacey, Taufa'ao Filise, Lou Reed, James Down, Ellis Jenkins, Sam Warburton, Josh Turnbull.

Replacements: Matthew Rees, Sam Hobbs, Craig Mitchell, Jarrad Hoeata, Manoa Vosawai, Tavis Knoyle, Jarrod Evans, Tom Isaacs.

Glasgow: Stuart Hogg, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell, Grayson Hart, Gordon Reid, Pat MacArthur, Sila Puafisi, Leone Nakarawa, Jonny Gray (Captain), Josh Strauss, Chris Fusaro, Adam Ashe.

Replacements: James Malcolm, Ryan Grant, Zander Fagerson, Greg Peterson, Rob Harley, Ryan Wilson, Mike Blair, Junior Bulumakau.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy).

Assistant referees: Rhys Thomas, Gwyn Morris (both WRU).

Citing commissioner: Aurwel Morgan (WRU).

TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU).