Flanker Jenkins suffered a serious knee injury playing for Wales against South Africa more than two years ago and has faced a long road back to action.
So at a time when there is plenty of bad news about, it was heartening to see him lace up his boots again and cap a 40-minute run-out with a try.
The Blues scored six tries in total with two from Aled Summerhill and one from Wales wing Owen Lane who was also returning from injury.
Both teams used the friendly clash to warm-up for their return to Guinness PRO14 action next weekend.
With Jenkins back in their ranks, the Blues started well and Dan Fish came close to an early try after he collected a Jason Tovey kick ahead.
A score soon arrived when the Blues had numbers to the left and Fish gave the try-scoring pass to Summerhill who had an easy finish. Tovey’s coversion fell short.
Ellis Jenkins touches down to score his try
The Ospreys responded with their first bout of pressure, but just a few metres short of the line Jenkins produced some superb and trademark breakdown work to earn his team a penalty.
Summerhill went over for his second eight minutes later after fine work by Mason Grady. This time, Tovey’s kick was good.
Ospreys hit straight back through centre Callum Carson and Luke Price converted from underneath the posts.
The tries kept coming.
The dangerous Lane grabbed the Blues’ third before Matthew Aubrey cancelled that out. Both scores were converted by Tovey and Price.
Then came the moment Jenkins would have dreamed about during his long recovery.
As the ball was hacked over the Ospreys’ line, the Wales flanker was free and unopposed to get downward pressure.
Tovey couldn’t miss.
Jenkins was withdrawn at half time as was always the plan with his team 26-14 up while both sides made a raft of changes to make use of their squads.
Ospreys drove over the line through Dewi Lake for the first try of the second period as their forwards did a fine job. Price kicked the goal.
The replacements kept on coming, but in contrast the tries dried up.
Blues hooker Iestyn Harris crossed for a fifth home effort and Luke Scully improved it.
Home centre Grady then scurried away down the touchline as the sun stayed out at Cardiff Arms Park and there was still time for Blues centre Harri Millard to complete the scoring.
Scorers:
Cardiff Blues
Tries: Summerhill 12, 20, Lane 26, Jenkins 36, Harris 58, Millard 69
Cons: Tovey 21, 27, 37 Scully 59
Ospreys
Tries: Carson 22, Aubrey 31, Lake 50
Con: Price 22, 31, 51
Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)
