Tuesday 27 December 2011

Leinster Claim Maximum Points


Pro12 leaders Leinster scored three tries in each half as they claimed maximum points against an inexperienced Ulster side at the RDS on Monday.

Tries from Fionn Carr, Sean Cronin and Leo Auva'a had Leinster 21-6 ahead at the break.

Ulster replied with a try from debutant Chris Cochrane in the 48th minute.

However, Leinster's forwards dominated the final quarter and a penalty try and further touchdowns from Ian Madigan and Jamie Hagan completed the home win.

Ulster included five debutants with boss Brian McLaughlin saving some of his established stars for Friday's home meeting with Munster.

They enjoyed an encouraging opening but Leinster soon applied some sustained pressure.

They got over the line twice but Cian Healy and Auva'a were both denied as strong defending stopped the ball being grounded.

It seemed only a matter of time before Leinster scored and the try did come as Carr scooped up Madigan's long pass and scored in the corner.

Fergus McFadden and Luke Fitzgerald soon sparked a raid through midfield and Madigan's accurate pass gave Cronin an easy run-in.

James McKinney's got Ulster off the mark with a penalty, punishing Carr for failing to release.

Ulster enjoyed a decent spell coming up to the interval and ground out the hard yards for McKinney to slot a second three-pointer.

Leinster scored their third try just before half-time as a solid scrum allowed Auva'a to power past Robbie Diack.

Ulster's response early in the second half brought a deserved try - Cochrane making the line despite the best efforts of Eoin Reddan and Fitzgerald.

Leinster's superiority in the set piece was all too obvious when Ulster collapsed a series of scrums near their line and referee Peter Fitzgibbon duly awarded a penalty try.

McFadden converted the bonus point score and split the posts again after Madigan coasted in behind the sticks and prop Hagan burrowed over from close range.

Leinster: Fitzgerald, D Kearney, McFadden, D'Arcy, Carr, Madigan, Reddan, Healy, Cronin, Ross, Browne, Toner, McLaughlin, Jennings, Auva'a.

Replacements: O'Malley for D Kearney (63), Conway for Carr (52), Boss for Reddan (74), J McGrath for Healy (69), Strauss for Cronin (65), Hagan for Ross (69), R Ruddock for Browne (57).

Not used: Sykes.

Ulster: Nelson, Cochrane, Allen, Farrell, Gaston, McKinney, P Marshall, Black, Brady, Macklin, Barker, Stevenson, McComb, Birch, Diack, Joyce.

Replacements: Olding for McKinney (68), Porter for P Marshall (68), Cronin for Black (68), Annett for Brady (74), Court for Macklin (40), Joyce for Barker (21), Simpson for Joyce (74).

Not used: Andrew.

Att: 18,000

Ref: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).