Leinster 30 (11)
Tries: Fitzgerald (2), Heaslip, Sexton
Cons: Sexton (2)
Pens: Sexton (2)

Cardiff Blues' record-breaking run of 17 successive league wins at the Arms Park was ended as Leinster gave their hosts a lesson in finishing moves.

The Welsh side stay top of the Magners League but looked anything but potential champions against a side who had two players sin-binned.

Luke Fitzgerald crossed twice for the visitors along with Jamie Heaslip and Jonathan Sexton to gain a bonus point.

Mark Lewis and Tom James were the scorers of the Blues tries.

Highlights - Magners League tries

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The Blues, with the confidence generated by three wins to start the season, threw the ball around from the start and a break by fly-half 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 Sexton after Blues skipper Xavier Rush was guilty of a high tackle, before the home side were denied again when wing James was bundled into the corner flag.

The Irish province were relying mainly on fairly aimless kicks downfield, but one bore fruit when Ben Blair and Robinson each failed to deal with it and sustained Leinster pressure ended with Christian Warner floating out a long pass for wing Fitzgerald to touch down.

Maybe this will be the kick in the backside we need Blues coach Dai Young

Blair made amends with a searing break from his own half, earning the position for Lewis to go over out wide.

Sexton restored the Leinster 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 following a Robinson cross-kick, and the fly-half was wide with a penalty to end the half.

Leinster began the second period with more belief and their back row, with Jamie Heaslip and replacement Stephen Keogh prominent, began to test the home defence.

They were rewarded when Fitzgerald was first to reach a kick by Sexton and cross for a try which its architect converted.

Two Robinson penalties narrowed the gap before Scottish referee Peter Allan finally 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 Jakman left him faced with 80-yards of empty field.

He covered 50 of them before being overhauled, but the move continued and Heaslip crashed over.

Making light of their numerical disadvantage, Leinster claimed their fourth try when Sexton found his way in near the flag and then added the extras.

The visitors suffered a second sin-binning - this time for prop Stan Wright - and Blues wing James added a late try, but it provided no consolation.

"We played all the rugby and had all the ball but couldn't finish them off.

"Fair play to Leinster, they defended very well and scored from every opportunity they had.

"That's the level we have to be at, if we want to achieve things we have to win these games. We have to learn from this, maybe it will be the kick in the backside we need."

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), Flanagan for N Robinson (66), Rees for Spice (69), Davies for Sidoli (65), Morgan for Lewis (65). Not Used: S Roberts, Johnson.

Leinster: Kearney, Brown, McFadden, Warner, Fitzgerald, Sexton, Whitaker, Wright, Jackman, Knoop, Hogan, Cullen, McLaughlin, Jennings, Heaslip.
Replacements: McCarron for Sexton (77), Blaney for Jackman (71), Jowitt for Hogan (65), Keogh for McLaughlin (40), Gleeson for Jennings (60). Not Used: Willis, Gomez.

Att: 5,991