Blues beat Zebre on Jones' last appearance
Last Updated: 19/05/15 1:51pm
Adam Jones received a standing ovation on his last appearance for Cardiff Blues who ended their season with a 29-5 win over Zebre in the Guinness PRO12 at Arms Park.
The Wales prop, who is joining Harlequins next season, was replaced in the second half.
By then, Cardiff had already claimed a bonus point thanks to tries by Alex Cuthbert, who crossed twice, Gethin Jenkins and Rhys Patchell. And Garyn Smith crossed in injury time to complete a comfortable victory.
Blues led 12-0 at half-time, although it had taken half an hour before they combined a passage of play to find a way past the Italian side.
The visitors, looking to overtake rivals Benetton Treviso as Italy’s representatives in next season's European Champions Cup, made a bright start.
Cardiff were twice caught short out wide by angled kicks from fly-half Luciano Orquera but Zebre failed to capitalise.
Blues showed ambition through Gavin Evans and Richard Smith but lost scrum-half Tavis Knoyle to an early injury.
But they eventually found their way over the line in the 30th minute. Cuthbert finished in the corner after a pass from full-back Aled Summerhill, making his league debut.
Zebre were then reduced to 14 men when captain Marco Bortolami was sin-binned for infringing at a ruck.
Cardiff took swift advantage, kicking the resulting penalty into touch from where Jenkins broke clear from a driving line-out for his first try of the season, that was converted by Patchell.
Cuthbert barged over for his second try after 50 minutes following an initial break by Tom Isaacs to open breathing space at 17-0, despite Patchell missing his second conversion.
And the Wales wing turned provider eight minutes later for Patchell to earn the bonus point.
That cleared the way for a raft of changes by both teams on the hour, including the departure of Jones for the last time at the Arms Park to applause.
Zebre claimed a consolation try 11 minutes from time through replacement Valerio Bernabo before Smith raced onto Patchell's pass for a late score.
