Cardiff delivered some pre-Christmas cheer as they claimed a bonus point victory at the Arms Park to move up to second spot in their Challenge Cup pool.

They trailed 10-5 at half-time against the visitors from Bloemfontein, but then rattled up 21 unanswered points after the break to seal the maximum haul.

Player of the Match Josh Adams crossed twice, while fellow wing Tom Bowen marked his debut with a sharp finish, with the bonus being secured by a penalty try earned by a lineout drive.

Coming on top of the point gained in last weekend’s defeat out in Lyon, this result has put Matt Sherratt’s team in a strong position in Challenge Cup Pool 1.

They are now second behind Lyon, with one group game still to be played this weekend out in France, where Perpignan will host Connacht.

There was further good news as Taulupe Faletau came through his comeback unscathed, with the Wales and Lions great showing up well during a 52 minute run-out on his first appearance since April following shoulder and calf injuries.

Another experienced figure making his return was hooker Liam Belcher who took up the captaincy once again having been out for a couple of months with a fractured thumb.

It was also a big night for 18-year-old Bowen – the son of former Scarlets and Bridgend fly-half Gareth Bowen – who was drafted in on the wing for his first regional outing.

There was an early welcome back to rugby for No 8 Faletau as he encountered a hefty hit in carrying the ball up from near his line, but he rode the challenge and made good ground, following that contribution up with a key tackle to snuff out a threatening Cheetahs attack.

Then, on 18 minutes, somewhat against the run of play, Cardiff took the lead with a score launched by one wing and rounded off by another.

It was pacy teenager Bowen who set things in motion by bursting up the left touchline, with Ben Thomas cutting inside after the ball was moved right.

Then it was down to the predatory finishing of Wales star Adams.

When the ball was popped up to him from a ruck, he threw a dummy before slicing through and cutting inside to  reach the line. It was a classy piece of work.

The Cheetahs’ trip to the Arms Park was proving costly in terms of their casualty list, as they lost three players to injuries inside the opening quarter, including two of the back row.

But that didn’t put them off course as they proceeded to monopolise territory and possession for a prolonged spell.

Their sustained pressure eventually told when wings Munier Hartzenburg and Cohen Jasper worked a one-two down the left, with scrum-half Ruben de Haas doing well to hold on to the scoring pass and get the ball down amid a juggle.

Ethan Wentzel added the conversion from wide out and then landed a penalty from just inside the opposition half to extend his side’s lead.

Cardiff made a very rare entry into the Cheetahs 22 just before the break, but were denied a score with Faletau being held up over the line, meaning they turned around trailing by five points.

However, they weren’t to be denied for long when play resumed, as Bowen capped his debut with a well taken try.

It was a thrilling score, launched by Belcher taking a short pass from front row pal Corey Domachoski in midfield and bursting through to make some 40 metres before eventually being hauled down.

The ball was then moved left, with Callum Sheedy flapping it on and Cam Winnett and Josh McInally combining to feed Bowen.

The youngster had plenty of work to do but did it superbly, coming back against the grain to cut inside four defenders and reach the whitewash, with Sheedy slotting the conversion to give the hosts the lead.

They then went further ahead just before the hour mark as Adams claimed his second.

It was replacement flanker Alex Mann who made the crucial line-break as he joined the backs, going through the attempted tackle of Hartzenburg, with Winnett sending Adams over in the right corner.

Sheedy judged the swirling wind to perfection to draw his touchline conversion back between the posts to make it 19-10 going into the final quarter.

The focus was now on securing the four try bonus and that was achieved 12 minutes from time.

From a Teddy Williams take at a close range lineout, a couple of backs joined the rolling maul which was illegally brought down, resulting in a penalty try and a yellow card for replacement prop Robert Hunt.

Cardiff will now take a 12-day break from match action before heading to Rodney Parade on Boxing Day for a URC Welsh derby clash with the Dragons. They will travel in good spirits after this comeback win – their fifth victory in nine matches in all competition this season.