The narrow victory ended a woeful run of nine successive defeats away from home and was the first time they had come out on top in the Welsh capital.

Mark McCall's side now sit on top of the league as they also picked up four points last weekend despite not playing, under the League's new rule for bye weeks.

The game was a kicking contest from the off with Blues flyhalf Nicky Robinson slotting three penalties in the opening quarter but each of his efforts were matche dby Ulster No.10 David Humphreys.

Neither side breached the tryline in the first half but there were some chances.

A good break from Ulster fullback Paddy Wallace saw debutant Australian lock Justin Harrison go close.

Later some good defence from the Blues was just enough to keep Tommy Bowe out and Cardiff's Mike Phillips forced Paul Steinmetz into some rescue work near his own line.

The Blues ensured they went in ahead at the break with a 50m effort from Robinson and he stretched their lead shortly after the interval.

But the battle of the flyhalves resumed with Humphreys adding two more to his own tally when offered the opportunity.

The visitors went on to notch the opening try of the game when a chip from Ulster scrum half Kieran Campbell wrong-footed wing Craig Morgan, Bowe pounced on the ball and beat the cover for the score.

Humphreys extended his good run with the boot with an easy conversion and then put the visitors in sight of victory with a drop goal.

The Blues rallied when Rhys Williams came up with the ball after a charged-down kick and sparked a move that saw Morgan cross for a try. However Robinson's excellent conversion was not enough for the home side to avoid defeat.