The Welsh region backed up their impressive win on the road against Racing Metro last weekend with the victory of London Irish but were made to work hard by the Exiles.
T Rhys Thomas and Heineken Man of the Match Lloyd Williams touched down in the first half for the 2010 Amlin Challenge Cup winners against an Exiles side who had Steve Shingler sent off with less than a quarter of the game played.
The Blues started superbly in the Welsh capital as they raced into a 10-point lead inside eight minutes.
Dan Parks slotted a third-minute penalty to hand the Blues an early advantage before hooker Thomas crossed for the game’s opening try.
Thomas burrowed over from a driving maul after the Blues had turned down a shot at the posts in favour of a close-range lineout. Skipper Paul Tito leapt highest to secure possession seven metres out and the Blues pack then showed their power to gift Thomas his fifth Heineken Cup try in 38 appearances.
Tom Homer slotted three penalties to a single strike from Parks in the second half of the opening 40 minutes as the visitors closed the gap to 13-9. But just as things seemed to be going Irish’s way, Lloyd Williams intervened with his try in the final play before the break to hand the Blues a healthy half-time lead.
Parks kicked the Blues further ahead on 50 minutes after Homer had produced a try-saving tackle on Cuthbert three minutes earlier. Homer then produced the goods at the other end of the field with a brace of penalties on 53 and 63 minutes to narrow the gap to 21-15 and keep Irish’s hopes of an upset on the cards.
Parks looked to have settled matters by opening up an eight-point gap once again with just over 10 minutes to go but Homer’s 74th-minute strike led to a nervy finish.
