Leinster on Double Road

Leinster booked themselves into their second final of the season after beating Glasgow 19-15 in the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs at the RDS on Saturday.

Jonathan Sexton kicked three first-half penalties to Duncan Weir's one as the hosts opened up a six-point lead at the break.

Sexton added another three-pointer in the second period before Dave Kearney's converted try confirmed the hosts' place in the final, where they will play the Ospreys.

Dougie Hall and Stuart Hogg went over late on for the visitors, but it proved to be mere consolation.

The reigning European champions and Heineken Cup finalists went into the game as hot favourites and they justified that tag early on, playing with a high tempo and looking to run the ball from deep. Their initial ambition was rewarded through a long-range Sexton penalty.

But Glasgow gradually grew into the game and Weir levelled the scores from the tee. It was the hosts who were next to threaten.

Although the visitors' defence was valiant, when Leinster were in control of the ball, the Warriors ultimately struggled to contain their wide, expansive game. And Leinster's fly-half kicked a second three-pointer to take them into the lead.

By now, the Irish outfit's power and creativity was starting to tell. Glasgow's Alex Dunbar was sin-binned for a cynical infringement close to his own line, but a combination of superb rearguard action and inaccurate Leinster attack saw the Scottish side hold out.

However, Sexton added a penalty late in the half as the hosts took a 9-3 lead into the interval.

The visitors started the second period brightly, but Weir was profligate with two three-point opportunities.

They were punished when the home team's fly-half kicked a penalty of his own before the Irish province effectively sealed the victory when Kearney touched down.

Although Hall and Hogg went in late on, Ruaridh Jackson converting the latter, Leinster comfortably booked their place in the final.

OSM news service