Scottish eyes may be somewhat distracted by other matters, but Glasgow have succeeded in making the sort of start to the season which marks out potential champions.

A long way to go of course, but a gritty defeat of the holders and then followed up with a comfortable away win at a tough venue - those are results which could be key come May.

This was easy in the end, but that does not tell the full story of a game which swung on two out-of-the-blue moments in particular which Glasgow were clinical enough to put away - a first try from a turnover, a second from an interception. Even their third could have been grabbed for an interception the other way. It was not lucky, but it was a question of opportunism that brought a victory.

The early exchanges offered encouragement to both sides. Cardiff Blues took advantage of a hacked kick ahead to earn a lineout, then drove forward into the Glasgow 22.

Obstruction by the visitors brought three points for the home side, Rhys Patchell landing the penalty despite being at the left-hand touchline.

Glasgow responded, trying to establish a pattern of quick ball and effective movement. It brought a penalty in front of the posts, quickly taken by wing Sean Lamont only for the move to break down when home wing Dan Fish knocked on a possible interception. Glasgow did come away with three points, though, as continued pressure brought a penalty from the fringes of a scrum. Henry Pyrgos landed that and soon put his team into the lead when more of the same quick-ball pressure brought another penalty from a ruck offence.

Both sides were showing enterprise on the artificial surface at the Arms Park, Glasgow running from their own line and coming within a couple of yards of working the opening to go all the way.

Instead the Blues' willingness to keep the ball in hand brought a ruck penalty inside the Glasgow 22 and Patchell equalised.

The game had plenty of entertainment, but it took more than half an hour for a try to come. After so much structured attacking rugby, the score came in very different fashion.

Blues centre Cory Allen took the ball into contact just inside the Glasgow half. He was held up in the air and Lamont was able to strip the ball and set off down the touchline with plenty of space to exploit.

Blues outside-half Patchell was covering back, but Lamont was able to use a shimmy and his strength to step out of the tackle and continue unopposed for the try. Pyrgos converted from wide out.

Patchell missed a long-range penalty and Glasgow survived the last few minutes of the first half to take a useful lead into the break.

Glasgow re-emerged with Jerry Yanuyanutawa at tighthead, and having a harder time in the scrums than predecessor Rossouw de Klerk. Cardiff earned a penalty 55 yards out, but Patchell has kicked them from more than 60 yards on this pitch and duly supplied the points.

Another scrum a couple of yards further into the Cardiff half and another penalty for the Blues, but this time Patchell's effort fell well short as he strove for the extra few feet.

Gordon Reid was on at loosehead, but his instinctive flick at the ball from an offside position meant he was destined for a 10-minute rest he hardly needed. Patchell landed the penalty to bring his side back within a point of the visitors, but 14-man Glasgow somehow dominated the 10-minute period of the sin-binning.

Blues replacement scrum-half Lloyd Williams then looked for a pass back to his blindside wing from a lineout only for Glasgow's replacement scrum-half Niko Matawalu to read the move, pluck the ball from mid-air and race to the corner. The television match official confirmed the score and replacement Duncan Weir added the conversion from wide.

He also slotted a penalty to take Glasgow into a comfortable position, while replacement wing DTH van der Merwe started the move to clinch victory.

He managed to get outside the home defence to sprint 50 yards before passing back inside to Matawalu, who went the rest of the way between the posts. Weir again converted.

Having been maybe a little fortunate to have opened up so much clear water between themselves and Cardiff, Glasgow could then relax and strive for the bonus-point fourth try.

It did not arrive, but many sides will struggle at the Arms Park this season so once the dust has settled on the disappointment of missing out on a fifth point they will have the considerable consolation of the four they did gather.

Scorers. Cardiff Blues Pens: Patchell (4).

Glasgow Warriors Tries: Lamont, Matawalu (2). Cons: Pyrgos, Weir (2). Pens: Pyrgos (2), Weir (2).

Cardiff Blues A Thomas; A Cuthbert, C Allen (R Smith 61), G Evans, D Fish; R Patchell (G Davies 69), L Jones (L Williams 54); S Hobbs (T Filise 71), M Rees (capt, K Dacey 61), A Jones (S Andrews 69), J Hoeata (M Cook 54), F Paulo, J Turnbull (J Navidi 61), S Warburton, M Vosawai.

Glasgow P Murchie; T Seymour, M Bennett, (D Weir 54) A Dunbar, S Lamont (DTH van der Merwe ); P Horne , H Pyrgos (N Matawalu 54); A Allan ( G Reid 49), P MacArthur (F Brown 7), R de Klerk (J Yanuyanutawa 40), T Swinson, J Gray (L Nakarawa 64), R Harley, C Fusaro (J Eddie 71), J Strauss (capt).

Referee John Lacey (Ireland)