CARDIFF.........................41 ABERAVON.....................28

JACOB Beetham helped himself to 26 points to steer Cardiff to a win that steered them to the top of the Indigo Group Premiership table ahead of unbeaten Newport’s clash with Llanelli today.

The former Wales U20 full back will head to South Africa today along with fellow try scorer Theo Cabango as part of the Cardiff Rugby squad that will play two matches in the United Rugby Championship over the next fortnight.

As warm-ups go, this was an impressive dress rehearsal and took his Premiership point tally through the half-century mark and his overall total for his debut season to 137 in 15 competitive matches.

It was the Wizards who drew first blood through their tough as teak pack, No 8 Andrew

Waite driving over from a scrum five metres out in the sixth minute. Aled Thomas added the conversion.

Beetham then got going and added a try and conversion to two penalties to hoist his side into a 13-7 lead. Hooker Alun Rees then crossed for a second home try, which Beetham improved.

Back came Aberavon and a try from Chris Banfield, once again improved by Thomas, meant they only trailed by six points at the break. They quickly bridged the gap at the start of the second half when they took full advantage of a yellow card to the home tight head prop, Ollie Drake, as they earned a penalty try at a scrum.

That gave them a one point lead and put the home side under even greater pressure. They refused to buckle, though, and three tries in succession put them back in charge.

Scrum half Ethan Lloyd. Cabango and then Beetham again crossed the Aberavon line to bag the bonus-point and Beetham added two conversions. Aberavon ensured they left with something as Matthew Jenkins secured a fourth try at the death which Thomas again converted. CARDIFF: Tries: J Beetham 2, A Rees, E Lloyd, T Cabango; Cons: J Beetham 5; Pens; J Beetham 2. ABERAVON: Tries: A Waite, C Banfield, Pen Try, M Jenkins; Cons: A Thomas 3.