And the 37-point mauling left under-fire coach David Young beaming afterwards.

‘A lot of things that we’ve been trying and failing to do recently came to the fore today,’ the former Wales skipper said. ‘It’s been a perfect day for us.’

Abdul scored two tries in each half as the much-criticised Blues pack took control of the game and signalled that they will be a force to be reckoned with in this tournament – especially when the likes of Iestyn Harris and Rhys Williams return from the World Cup.

Fans who braved the chilly conditions didn’t have to wait long for some reward, with Blues fullback Craig Morgan joining the line in the opening minute to set up Abdul for an early score.

The visitors weren’t helped by the early loss of hooker Barry Williams through injury, and their hopes of returning to the top of the League took a battering when Nick Robinson broke a tackle and slipped the ball to older brother Jamie to score near the posts.

Blues flanker Rob Appleyard was yellow-carded for taking fullback Gavin Henson out late, but the 14-man home side showed grit to hit back. Henson spilled the ball on the halfway line, and two great bursts from Dan Baugh and Nick Robinson set up Abdul for his second try of the half. Robinson’s conversion took the score to 21-6 at the break.

The Ospreys camped in the opposition for much of the second half as they tried to get at least a bonus point out of the match, but their finishing was woeful as the Blues scrambled well in defence and it was the home side who earned the extra point with three tries in the final five minutes.