Cardiff Blues streak to 37-8 home win over Zebre

Cardiff Blues scored a comprehensive 37-8 home win over Zebre in the PRO14.

A 40-metre touchline sprint from former Wales' scrum-half Lloyd Williams gave the Blues an explosive start as the city's fireworks display exploded behind the ground at Cardiff Castle - and there was another long-range try from Willis Halaholo to savour in a dominant first-half display.

The home side welcomed back skipper Gethin Jenkins for his first game since injuring his knee in the Blues' Judgement Day win over the Ospreys at the Principality Stadium on April 15.

Jenkins played for 56 minutes and looked as though he had never been away.

It was the veteran front rower's big tackle in midfield that allowed Nick Williams to turn over a Zebre attack and create the opportunity out wide for Williams to run in the first try after six minutes.

Steve Shingler could not convert and four minutes later his opposite number, Carlo Canna, reduced the deficit with a penalty for the Italians.

At the end of the first quarter, Halaholo danced his way past four defenders in a thrilling run from near half-way to cross in the right corner for the Blues' second try. This time Shingler was on target with his conversion.

The Blues maintained their dominance and Zebre coughed up some cheap penalties as the pressure mounted, allowing Shingler to add two more penalties before the break to give the home side an 18-3 interval lead.

It was the same story after the turnaround as the Blues dominated territory and when Zebre conceded a penalty on halfway it was kicked deep into their 22. Macauley Cook won the lineout, the forwards drove on and Matthew Rees picked up the simple try.

That meant the Blues had 29 minutes to chase the bonus-point score and they picked it up 12 minutes later.

Another penalty gave Shingler another chance to kick to the corner, although this time the drive was repelled. The ball was moved wide to the left where American wing Blaine Scully threw an overhead pass inside to Matthew Morgan, who scored the crucial fourth try.

Shingler hit the mark with his wide-angled conversion, before Morgan then turned provider for Tom James after the two men inter-passed from a quick lineout take in the Zebre 22 and Shingler landed his third conversion.

Zebre grabbed a consolation try from a penalty five metres out by replacement scrum-half Guglielmo Palazzani.