Both sides went into the match with an unbeaten record in the competition but once the Tigers had gone ahead with tries from Fraser Balmain and Niall Morris just before half-time they took full control.
Further scores from David Mele, Tommy Bell and two from Adam Thompstone in the second half secured the Tigers’ first win at Cardiff Arms Park in their history.
Gareth Davies came in at outside half for the home side as one of five changes and he soon had them in front with a penalty after five minutes. Davies added two more penalties in the opening quarter before Tigers’ Welsh outside half Owen Williams got the visitors on the scoreboard with a penalty after 22 minutes.
But two quick tries before half-time stunned the Blues. First prop Balmain went over from close range after Michele Rizzo and Laurence Pearce had been held up just short. With 20 seconds of the half remaining Morris got a second as he took advantage of a fractured Blues’ defence to go over in the corner.
Injuries to lock Lou Reed and centres Joaquin Tuculet and Adam Thomas rocked the Blues and it only took nine minutes of the second half for the Tigers to get their third. After knocking on the door with several phases scrum-half David Mele dummied his way through to go in under the posts, with Williams adding his second conversion.
More injuries for the Blues, including a nasty knock for prop Brad Thyer two minutes after coming on, further disrupted the home side and ended any realistic hopes of a comeback. Full-back Bell secured the bonus point for the Tigers with a well-worked try involving Thompstone and Jack Roberts.
All the rugby was played in the Blues’ 22 in the final quarter and Tigers put the gloss on the win with two tries from wing Thompson.
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