Ma'ama Molitika grabbed the only try to help Cardiff Blues claim a vital Magners League win over Ulster at the Cardiff City Stadium.
It looked like they would have to rely on the boot of Ben Blair who claimed the rest of the hosts' points by kicking four penalties.
But it took the double sin-binning of Ryan Caldwell and Darren Cave for the Blues to make their break-through.
Replacement Molitika went over after winning a line-out five metres out.
It was a much-needed win for the Blues which sees them climb above Ulster and keep their Heineken Cup qualification hopes alive following the error-strewn clash.
The build-up surrounded number eight Xavier Rush who is leaving the Blues for Ulster next season, but he was kept quiet in a scrappy first half.
Both sides struggled to make an impact in an untidy start and Ulster's strength at scrum and breakdown gave them most of the territory
But the hosts got the early score thanks to creative play by centre Casey Laulala.
It was his break that eventually led to a penalty which full-back Blair kicked with ease, before missing a second attempt moments later.
Rush & Tito happy with Blues win
And Ulster were able to get back on to level terms midway through the first half thanks to Niall O'Connor's long-range penalty after the Blues were caught offside.
The game showed little sign of opening up and the visitors could have taken the lead when captain Paul Tito was penalised for failing to roll away but O'Connor sent his kick wide.
Tito almost made immediate amends for his error, making a great run before off-loading to Martyn Williams, and it took a last-gasp tackle by Cave to deny him.
The Blues did look the most likely to claim the first try, but were guilty of losing composure as they went through the phases.
So they had to rely on the boot of Blair, who kicked two quick penalties in the closing stages of the first half.
O'Connor, making only his second Magners League start of the season, cut the Blues' lead to three points with an excellent penalty from inside his own half after the restart.
Leigh Halfpenny tried to do the same for the home side moments later but his effort fell short and wide.
Ulster were reduced to 14 men on 56 minutes when Caldwell was sin-binned for handling in the ruck.
Ma'ama Molitika goes over for the only try of the game
And it looked like the Blues would fail to take advantage with Blair, celebrating his 31st birthday, missing two more kicks.
But they did get the only try after Ulster went down to 13 men after Cave was yellow carded for tripping Halfpenny.
The resulting kick gave the Blues a line-out five metres out and back row replacement Molitika collected to drive over, with Blair converting to make it 16-6.
Molitika almost made it two tries in as many minutes but the Ulster defence held up strong.
O'Connor produced another kick from inside his own half to get Ulster within losing bonus-point territory.
But Blair restored the 10-point advantage with his boot as the Blues comfortably saw the game out.
Cardiff Blues coach Dai Young: "It was a bit of a nail-biter but we're just happy to get the win.
"It wasn't a classic and probably wasn't great entertainment to watch but points are more important at the moment.
"You could see we were a little edgy, we spilled a lot of ball and we didn't play that well."
Cardiff Blues: Blair, Halfpenny, Laulala, Shanklin, T. James, Sweeney, Rees, Jenkins, Thomas, Filise, Morgan, Tito, A. Powell, M. Williams, Rush. Replacements: Hewitt for Shanklin (31), Pretorius for Morgan (56), Molitika for A. Powell (60). Not Used: Flanagan, Cooper, R. Williams, Andrews.
Ulster: Smith, Trimble, Cave, Wallace, Danielli, O'Connor, P. Marshall, Court, Best, Botha, Tuohy, Caldwell, Ferris, Pollock, Henry. Replacements: Nagusa for Danielli (76), D. Fitzpatrick for Court (58), Brady for Best (72), O'Donoghue for Tuohy (48). Not Used: Humphreys, Heaney, Diack.
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