Having been awarded penalty for offside the Blues showed their intent kicking for the corner, and driving from the line out. They eventually spread the ball to the left where Tom James was forced into touch, before Edinburgh cleared. However it was a promising start from the Blues, dominating territory and holding on to possession.
Edinburgh did attack but solid defence especially by Thomas in midfield kept them at bay. The 20th minute saw the Blues eventually awarded a penalty and Blair stepped up to convert.
Jamie Roberts always looked a threat with ball in hand and the Blues tried to bring him into punch holes in the Edinburgh defence.
The breakthrough came after good work by Spice. From the ruck the ball was spread wide to Tom James who stepped inside his man and touched down. Blair added the conversion.
The Blues soon got another after a great break by Shanklin. The ball was moved to Roberts, who showed his strength and speed bursting past Southwell and sprinted in from 50 yards to score.
EDINBURGH RUGBY 0 CARDIFF BLUES 13
Edinburgh fought back early in the second half and managed to work their way into the Blues twenty two. Solid defence kept them out. However, they nearly scored when David Callam burst through, but within a yard of the try line he failed to hold onto a pass that would have seen him score.
An interception and kick ahead by T Rhys Thomas saw the Blues attack into the Edinburgh twenty two. They scored again when Dai Flanagan threw a long pass out to Shanklin, Blair came into the line and timed his pass to James to perfection. He touched down for his second of the night, but Blair struck the conversion wide.
The Blues could have got the bonus point when they turned Edinburgh over and broke. Jamie Roberts worked well down the wing and passed inside to Shanklin, who passed out to Spice, however the referee deemed the pass was forward.
The 60th minute saw Nicky Robinson come onto the field of play for the first time since Stade Francais in Paris and the Blues threw everything at the Scotsmen to try to get the bonus point. However Edinburghs defence has tightened in the second half but the Blues can be satisfied with a great performance ahead of their big match again Toulouse.
15 Ben Blair 14 Jamie Roberts 13 Tom Shanklin (70off) 12 Gareth Thomas 11 Tom James 10 Dai Flannigan (60off) 9 Jason Spice (75off) 8 Xavier Rush 7 Martyn Williams (67off) 6 Mamma Molitika 5 Paul Tito (55off) 4 Deiniol Jones 3 Taufaao Filise 2 Gareth Williams (25of) 1 Gethin Jenkins (70off) 16 John Yapp (70on) 17 T Rhys Thomas (25on) 18 Scott Morgan (55on) 19 Ben White (67on) 20 Richie Rees (75on) 21 Nicky Robinson (60on) 22 Marc Stcherbina (70on)
SCORERS:
CARDIFF BLUES EDINBURGH RUGBY
TRIES T James x 2
J Roberts x 1
PENALTIES Blair x 1
CONVERSIONS Blair x 1
DROP GOALS