Glasgow Warriors 19
Leinster 32
MAGNIFICENT LEINSTER EXTENDED their winning run in the Guinness PRO14 to 22 games as a powerhouse first-half performance laid the groundwork for a bonus point win at the home of Glasgow Warriors.
The Irish province may have been missing players on international duty but they still had far too much power in the tight and at the breakdown, where skipper Rhys Ruddock ruled supreme. The Scots managed three tries but never threatened to steal the result.
Though it was the pack who were to make the difference, it was fullback Jimmy O’Brien who got the scoring under way when he popped up on the shoulder of Harry Byrne, the fly-half, to take the offload and skip in for a try under the posts that set the ball rolling.
Glasgow hit back through a score from George Horne but Leinster were dominating up front and went back into the lead when Byrne took advantage of poor home discipline to land a penalty and then Luke McGrath, the scum half, reacted first to a penalty five metres out to take a tap and dash in for the score.
When flanker Scott Penny broke from a maul to power over for the third score before the break, Leinster were well on their way to the points they needed and not even conceding a score soon after the break to D’Arcy Rae, the prop, was enough to derail them.
Glasgow were man down after the home side offended yet again defending a break from Rory O’Loughlin and from the penalty Leinster took full advantage as Michael Bent, the prop, picked up the bonus point try with a quarter of the match still to go.
As the replacements started to flood on, Glasgow came into the game more. And after a high tackle from Cian Kelleher earned him a spell in the sin bin, the Scots piled on the pressure to claim a third try, coming form a maul with Tom Gordon, the flanker, touching down.
And they finished with more pressure but the Leinster defence held firm to deny them another score and the chance of losing bonus points.
Glasgow Warriors: Tries: George Horne (16), D’Arcy Rae (41), Tom Gordon (72).
Conversions: Peter Horne [2 from 3]
Leinster: Tries: Jimmy O’Brien (10), Luke McGrath (27), Scott Penny (36), Michael Bent (53)
Conversions: Ross Byrne [3 from 4]
Penalties: Ross Byrne [21, 76]
Glasgow Warriors: Huw Jones (sin bin: 52-62); Tommy Seymour (Ratu Tagive, 71), Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, Niko Matawalu; Pete Horne (Brandon Thomson, 67), George Horne (Jamie Dobie, 71); Aki Seiuli (Alex Allan, 54), Grant Stewart (George Turner, 54), D’Arcy Rae (Enrique Pieretto, 54), Rob Harley, Hamish Bain, Ryan Wilson (C) (Chris Fusaro, 63), Tom Gordon , TJ Ioane (Fotu Lokotui, 63).
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien (David Hawkshaw, 71); Cian Kelleher (sin bin: 71-end), Rory O’Loughlin, Tommy O’Brien, Dave Kearney, Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath (Hugh O’Sullivan, 76); Peter Dooley (Michael Milne, 54), James Tracy (Dan Sheehan, 54), Michael Bent (Tom Clarkson, 60); Ross Molony (Scott Fardy, 60), Devin Toner, Josh Murphy, Scott Penny, Rhys Ruddock (C)(Dan Leavy, 60).
Referee: B Whitehouse (Wales)
Great win in a tricky place. Super to see Hawkshaw and Leavy on the paddock and Hugh back. Ospreys Edinburgh Cardiff and Scarlets before Europe but I can’t wait for the interpros, granted the chopping and changing might effect the selections but not the intensity.
@Bryan Russell: on another note Saracens about to be promoted without a single game in the championship
@Bryan Russell: why’s that Bryan
Ruddock class again tonight hope he’s brought into the Irish camp, Josh Murphy my man of the match seems to have turned into a bit of a brute and Cian Kelleher was excellent on the wing kept Matawalu quiet as he is normally a handful for any team.
Nice win for Leinster in one of the trickest places to go, I didn’t get seeing the game but the article doesnt provide a good write up, very Leinster focused. Like saying “The irish province was missing players to international duty, but still had to much power.” Where Glasgow not missing about 15 players on international duty too, or was it just Leinster? Mostly focused on Leinsters tries. A fee lines for each and just a mention of a name for any of Glasgows. Did any Glasgow players play well? Where they good or bad tactically? I think even Leinsters fans would like a better write up on the game than that.
@Kingshu: Christ the level of provincial nitpicking on these rugby articles is getting insufferable.
@Rocky Raccoon: wouldnt have put that as provincial nitpicking, its not a well written article nitpicking, but you read into the way you want.
@Kingshu: our media is very much focused on irish teams only. It is probably the biggest weakness of the pro14, that we all just care about our own. Perhaps more analysis of the Scottish Welsh and Italians might create more interest
@Rudiger McMonihan: I think there used to be a weekly roundup, even that would be nice as Zebre winning this weekend was a good reult for them and Edinburgh beating Scarlets will have been important for Connacht. A weekly round up again for all the teams would be nice.
Great win in a tricky place. Lots of players put in big performances, Luke McGrath was class. Great start for the Irish teams. The South African teams will hopefully be a much needed improvement to the league.
@Umpaloompa: It’s farcical having these games on with the internationals away. Most teams don’t have the strength in depth to compete. Leinster, Ulster & Munster already looking likely knockout teams with only 4 games played. That is not good for any competition.
@TL55: that lack of strength and depth means other players get a chance to play. So on the contrary, this is a great opportunity for young players to develop and hone their skills. Some teams will lose games and will grow from that experience.
@Con Cussed: I agree with you on the opportunities for young players but if a club doesn’t have the strength in depth of the likes of Munster, Leinster and Ulster it devalues the competition.
Much as I like to see our provinces doing well I would prefer a stronger overall competition that prepares our players better for European knockout stages and international rugby.
@TL55: Have to agree on parts. While its good for younger players to get gametime the Pro 14 needs to be a serious competition to draw fans in, at stages like this it is a bit of a development league which isnt so good. With SA teams and the right format it could be the best most competitive league in Europe.
@Kingshu: to add to that there are never any articles about other teams in the Pro 14, which is important in growing interest as a competation. Zebre beating Ospreys was a good result for them especially when they are considered a poorer team, Edinburgh beating Scarlets is an important result in Munster and Connachts conference, but no stories on that. An overall weekly roundup of Pro 14 results would be nice. You would think when the SA teams join there wil be reports on their results. Like bulls beat ospreys to go top of conference or the like.
Another great performance from Leinster. Thought Michael Bent has a great game as our scrum completely dominated. It was also great to see a front row of the future with Milne, Sheehan and Clarkson.
There is a lot of negative comments about the Pro14 and the fact that games are being played during international windows but to those who complain just rake a look at the Ireland team and remember most of them got a chance with their province while the ‘main’ players were away. It is wonderful to see young players play with such skill and confidence. Last night Leinster were just brilliant.
If the league is not competitive because other teams can’t keep up that is really their problem. The only alternative is to dilute the Irish squads to bring them down to the average level.
Harry for Ross in the points stats. Nice little dinner table conversation point for the Byrnes.