Leinster go top in Magners League

Leinster 15 Ulster 3, RDS
Scorers for Leinster: Tries: Rob Kearney (1), Jamie Heaslip (1); Pens: Shaun Berne (1); Cons: Shaun Berne (1)
Scorers for Ulster: Tries, Pens: Niall O’Connor (1), Cons

Leinster claimed top spot in the Magners League tonight following a 12-point victory over Ulster in front of a 18,140-strong attendance at a chilly RDS.

It was a game IRFU referee George Clancy won’t mark down as one of his best as the Limerick whistler failed to make some tough decisions during this game.

The hosts showed great territorial dominance in the opening minutes, but it took Michael Cheika’s charges 10 minutes to get off the blocks, following a Shaun Berne penalty kick half way inside the Ulster 22.

This spurred Ulster to life with some impressive passages of play with kicker Niall O’Connor and captain Chris Henry giving something for the visitors to cheer about.

However Ulster’s perseverance failed to be rewarded on the stroke of the 19th minute with O’Connor failing to convert a long-range penalty.

It got worse for Brian McLaughlin’s side when TJ Anderson was harshly sin-binned less than a minute later for an offence in the ruck.

The 22-year old Flanker was unfortunate to receive a card after referee George Clancy had just moments earlier warned the captains about infringements at the breakdown.

The hosts looked a livelier force throughout the opening half, but it was Ulster who came closest to the first try of the night in the 28th minute.

Left-winger Simon Danielli made a surging run into the corner and was just three metres from the line when he send off a pass.

However Danielli’s pass went wayward, with the visitors continuing their pressure with two subsequent scrums – the first of which saw them break over the line, but was ruled offside – with scrum-half Eoin Reddin kicking the second to touch.

Leinster regained control of possession and went on the offensive pushing Ulster close to the line, but with Danielli, Boss and Whitten defending hard, the hosts conceded a penalty at the back.

Ulster’s determination was eventually rewarded, when with his second attempt out-half O’Connor tied the match at 3-all in the 36th minute.

The try-scoring drought was broken two minutes later, when Rob Kearney finished over the line between the posts.

It all came from an excellent break by the hosts from a line-out on the old stand side of the pitch, with Berne and Gordon D’Arcy involved in the move.

D’Arcy fed the ball to Kearney who made off like an express train, to crash over the line and push the hosts into a five-point lead.

But this score would certainly have angered the Ulster side, for what seemed to have been a forward pass, which referee Clancy failed to see.

However Leinster ploughed on regardless as Berne continued to show great accuracy in front of the posts, with his conversion giving his side a 10-3 interval advantage.

Ulster needed an inspiration to turn this game in their favour, and with the introduction of Ian Humphreys for the second half, the visitors hoped the bearded kicker would reap dividends.

But the visitors woes continued when Jamie Heaslip claimed the second try of the night five minutes into the second half.

A Garyowen style kick from winger Horgan landed in the arms of Kearney who quickly offloaded to the inrushing Heaslip, who finished over the line.

However Leinster’s good fortunes failed to continue with Berne failed to slot over the resulting conversion.

The third quarter saw the game peter into a dogged game peppered with some unsavoury incidents.

Ulster’s night was summed up in the 76th when an Ian Humphreys pass was fumbled by Danielli close to the line.

LEINSTER: 15. Rob Kearney 14. Shane Horgan 13. Brian O’Driscoll 12. Gordon D’Arcy 11. Isa Nacewa 10. Shaun Berne 9. Eoin Reddan.
1. Cian Healy 2. John Fogarty 3. Stan Wright 4. Leo Cullen 5. Malcolm O’Kelly 6. Kevin McLaughlin 7. Sean O’Brien 8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: 16. Bernard Jackman 17. Mike Ross 18. Devin Toner 19 Stephen Keogh 20. Paul O’Donohoe 21. Fergus McFadden 22. Girvan Dempsey

ULSTER: 15. Jamie Smith 14. Timoci Nagusa 13. Darren Cave 12. Ian Whitten 11. Simon Danielli 10. Niall O’Connor 9. Isaac Boss.
1. Bryan Young 2. Nigel Brady 3. BJ Botha 4. Ed O’Donoghue 5. Daniel Tuohy 6. TJ Anderson 7. Willie Faloon 8. Chris Henry (Capt)

Replacements: 16. Andi Kyriacou 17. Declan Fitzpatrick 18. Ryan Caldwell 19. Neil McComb 20. Cillian Willis 21. Ian Humphreys 22. Jonny Shiels.

REFEREE: George Clancy (IRFU)