A brace of tries from winger Tom James helped the pace-setting Cardiff Blues stay top of the Magners League table on Friday as home side Munster had a night to forget at Musgrave Park.

Munster failed to perform to the levels they set in their recent wins over the Llanelli Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons as they lost for the first time in seven league games.

Not even the presence of Ireland World Cup squad members Frankie Sheahan and Alan Quinlan, who were both sent on for the final half-hour, could inspire the hosts.

The Blues wrestled control of this match early on and never let go as their better ball handling and decision-making created the opportunities for their second win at Musgrave Park in eight months.

Ironically, the sole try scorer when Cardiff claimed a 19-12 success against Munster at this venue in March – Tom James – was the man to do the damage again on Friday night.

The Blues, having played two more games this season, looked the more battle-hardened and despite a lively opening from the hosts, David Young’s men strode into an 8-0 lead with just ten minutes on the clock.

Nick Robinson landed an initial penalty and then James opened his account for the night by kicking ahead and touching down after a quick turnover. Robinson failed to add the extras and two missed penalty kicks from Paul Warwick did little to lessen the Munster crowd’s growing anxiety.

Robinson kicked the visitors into an 11-0 lead before another miss in front of goal from Warwick, this time from closer in, left Munster wondering where their luck had gone.

Four frantic minutes before referee David Changleng’s half-time whistle allowed Declan Kidney’s men to gain a foothold however.

Warwick found his kicking boots as he chipped a 37th-minute penalty through the posts and converted lock Mark Melbourne’s try, three minutes later, following a muscular drive off a five-metre lineout.

Suddenly, the home side were only 11-10 behind and the momentum was most definitely with Munster.

But the Blues struck right back, four minutes after the interval, when good continuity between the forwards and backs saw James hurtle over for his second try.

The conversion was missed but Robinson banged over a 53rd-minute penalty to make it 19-10 in his side’s favour. Cardiff continued to press with James just metres short of nabbing a hat-trick score on 64 minutes.

Concerted pressure from the Munster pack saw flanker Niall Ronan grab a try back and Warwick’s conversion did whittle the Blues’ lead down to two points, yet Munster lacked the composure to eek out a late penalty chance or drop goal opportunity and the Blues hung on to record their third straight league victory over the men in red.