Cardiff - 22 Leinster - 3 Leinster coach Gary Ella was left searching for his first Celtic League win as the Cardiff Blues rediscovered their form at the Arms Park last night.
With the World Cup kicking off nine hours earlier, Ella must be counting the days until his 10 Irish internationals and Argentinian outhalf Felipe Contepomi are back in this part of the world.
It was an ugly loss, and Ella must be wondering where his first league win is coming from. Not only is this his side's biggest loss of the season, it's the first time they've been held tryless.
Man of the match, Cardiff backrower Dan Baugh, summed it up for the long-suffering Blues fans after the match: "It's been a long time coming."
Cardiff had the better of the first quarter, but had nothing to show for it. Time and time again, they looked the more threatening, but the hardy fans who turned up were still staring at a 0-0 scoreboard after 20 minutes.
Nick Robinson (Cardiff) and Matthew Leek missed shots at goal, with the only "highlight" of the first quarter being Baugh's yellow card for a professional foul. It's the Canadian's third sin-binning of the season, which means an automatic one-match ban.
Opposite number Des Dillon suffered the same fate for a deliberate knock-on in the 25th minute, and Robinson's conversion of the penalty finally gave the scoreboard attendants something to do.
Cardiff took immediate advantage of their extra man, and Baugh dived over the try-line after a good move that he started with a typically angry run through the middle of the Leinster defence.
Poor handling ruined several Cardiff moves as the 14-man Leinster side scrambled in defence, although a "streaker" who decided it was a bit chilly to go all the way offered support before being chased from the field.
Things went from bad to worse for the Leinster when young prop John Lyne was stretchered off with a broken ankle two minutes before the half-time whistle.
Leek had a chance to get Leinster on scoreboard in the final minute of the first half, but his 43-metre shot hit the left-hand upright, while Baugh was lucky to stay on the field when he took out winger Brendan Burke high and late.
Leek finally gave his coach something to smile about with a close-range penalty goal in the fifth minute of the second half, but that quickly turned into a frown as Cardiff winger Nick Walne went within inches of scoring. Only a superb piece of defence from full back James Norton and impressive lock Ben Gissing kept the former Wales international out.
Walne had another chance on the hour mark, and he grabbed a clever pass from full back Donavan van Vuuren to tiptoe inside the corner flag and score. Robinson's conversion took Cardiff out to 15-3. It got worse when Baugh crashed over five minutes later, and although the Canadian international left the field to a rousing reception in the 68th minute, Leinster couldn't breach the home side's defence.
Cardiff pressed for a fourth try and a valuable bonus point, but Leinster decided the last 10 minutes was an ideal time to show some pride and they finished on attack.
To compound Leinster's woes, Leo Cullen popped a shoulder during the game and is out of the shadow Ireland squad, and Aidan McCullen broke a hand.
Scorers: Cardiff Blues: Tries - D Baugh 2, N Walne; Pen - N Robinson; Cons - N Robinson 2. Leinster Lions: Pen - M Leek.
CARDIFF BLUES: D van Vuuren (G McCarthy 58); N Walne, J Robinson, M Allen, C Morgan; N Robinson, R Powell; D Crompton (J Yapp 79), A Lewis (capt) (G Williams 75), B Evans, J Brownrigg, A Moore (D McShane 49), D Baugh (R Appleyard 67), N Thomas (J Malpas 72), R Sowden-Taylor.
LEINSTER LIONS: J Norton (J Downey 79); J McWeeney, G Brown, D Quinlan, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Riordan (B O'Meara 72); J Lyne (P Coyle 38), G Hickie, E Byrne, L Cullen (capt), B Gissing (A Kearney 74), A McCullen (N Breslin 62), S Jennings, D Dillon.
Referee: M Changleng (Scotland)
