Celtic League/Cardiff Blues 19 Leinster 30:Cardiff are still top of the Magners Celtic League but they looked anything but potential champions as they crashed to their first home defeat in 20 months - ending a record run of 17 successive victories at the Arms Park. Leinster handed out a lesson in finishing which brought them a deserved bonus point.
Cardiff threw the ball around from the start and a break by outhalf Nicky Robinson deserved a try, only for centre Dafydd Hewitt to be held up over the line. Leinster took the lead with a long-range penalty by Jonathan Sexton after Blues skipper Xavier Rush high-tackled, before the home side were denied again when wing Tom James was bundled into the corner flag.
Leinster were relying mainly on aimless kicks downfield, but one bore fruit when Ben Blair and Robinson each failed to deal with it and Leinster pressure ended with Christian Warner floating a pass for wing Luke Fitzgerald to touch down.
Blair made amends with a break from his half, earning the position for Mark Lewis to go over out wide.
Sexton restored Leinster's lead with another penalty from near halfway which glanced off a post.
The Blues' frustration continued with Jamie Roberts knocking on in the act of scoring, and the outhalf was wide with a penalty to end the half.
Leinster began the second half with more belief and their backrow, with Jamie Heaslip and replacement Stephen Keogh prominent, began to test the defence. They were rewarded when Fitzgerald reached a kick by Sexton to cross for a try which its architect converted.
Two Robinson penalties narrowed the gap before referee Peter Allan tired of Leinster's ball-killing antics and yellow-carded centre Fergus McFadden. Yet it was Leinster who scored next. An interception by hooker Bernard Jackman left him faced with 80 yards of empty field. He covered 50 before being overhauled, but the move continued and Heaslip crashed over.
Leinster claimed their fourth try when Sexton crossed near the flag and added the extras. The visitors suffered a second sinbinning - for prop Stan Wright - and Blues wing James added a late consolation try.
CARDIFF BLUES: Blair; J Roberts, Selley, Hewitt, James; N Robinson, Spice; Yapp, G Williams, G Powell, Sidoli, Tito, Lewis, Sowden-Taylor, Rush. Replacements: Riley for J Roberts (40 mins), Flanagan for N. Robinson (66), Rees for Spice (69), Davies for Sidoli (65), Morgan for Lewis (65).
LEINSTER: Kearney; Brown, McFadden, Warner, Fitzgerald; Sexton, Whitaker; Wright, Jackman, Knoop, Hogan, Cullen, McLaughlin, Jennings, Heaslip. Replacements: McCarron for Sexton (77 mins), Blaney for Jackman (71), Jowitt for Hogan (65), Keogh for McLaughlin (40), Gleeson for Jennings (60).
Referee: P Allen (RFU).
