Trouble-torn Edinburgh had their first taste of Cardiff’s swish new artificial pitch but were handed yet another painful Pro12 reality check as they lost 27-12.
The picture had looked hopeful for the basement boys after a solid opening half. However, they were blotted out of the contest by Lions superstars Leigh Halfpenny and Alex Cuthbert, who bagged all the points between them.
Now coach Alan Solomons must somehow find a way to buck their fortunes in the build up to their Euro campaign.
Cardiff had stormed into attack and ruled the frantic opening spell. But all they could earn for their efforts was a penalty by Halfpenny.
The full-back then fluffed an easy chance to double his tally, while home playmaker Rhys Patchell was narrowly wide with a long-range drop goal bid.
Having weathered the early storm without suffering serious damage, the capital side came more into the contest. And the rocked the Blues back on their heels with two pinpoint pots at goal from fit-again skipper Greig Laidlaw.
His quickfire double merely sparked Cardiff into upping the pace and they snatched back the initiative in clinical style.
First, Halfpenny levelled the contest with a penalty then he converted from the touchline after Lions chum Cuthbert finished a slick move in trademark fashion.
At the same time, Edinburgh were forced to replace hand-injury victim Ben Atiga with Matt Scott.
Laidlaw was back in the spotlight to narrow the gap with his third penalty and he repeated the dose two minutes before the break.
Gunners looked the more urgent side after the restart, however Laidlaw’s next strike crashed back off the post.
They kept up the pressure, only for Argentine debut boy Tomas Leonardi to be denied a try. The video ref ruled the flanker had not played the ball quickly enough in the wake of being tackled.
To add to Edinburgh’s frustrations, Cardiff stretched their lead against the run of play with two more Halfpenny target-finders in the space of three minutes.
Even worse was to come as he banged over yet another, referee George Clancy sending Cornell du Preez to the sin bin for killing the ball on the ground.
Cuthbert then burst back into the game with another brilliant touchdown, following a marvellous handling move. Halfpenny converted. With the win in the bag, it was just a question of the Blues securing the bonus point.
And only a brave challenge by Sam Hidalgo-Clyne denied Cuthbert a hat-trick. Edinburgh supremo Alan Solomons insisted there will be no panic in the camp, despite their latest defeat.
Solomons said: “The fact is we are where we are and we must be patient and go through the process.”