Leinster up and running

Leinster 35 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 21

It was a case of relief all round for Leinster supporters after this depleted squad lost their two league openers, and while attendance (about 2,500) was well down on recent games there was, eventually, plenty to shout about.

The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for Christian Warner who broke up a Welsh assault in the dying seconds and sped the whole length of the pitch, hugging the touchline, for the final score of the game although, at that late stage, Leinster had done enough to emerge worthy winners of an absorbing contest.

Leinster coach Gary Ella was relieved: "We played very well in patches and not so well at times."

An interested party was Munster coach Alan Gaffney who brings his side to Wales next weekend for another Celtic League joust. "It was a bit all over the place and it was hard to define how good they are."

Leinster had a great start even if Matthew Leek missed a long-range penalty in the fourth minute. Just afterwards Aidan Kearney plundered a lineout against the throw, the home pack drove forward magnificently and Brian O'Riordan sent Leek in for a try. The out half converted for a 7-0 lead.

Gavin Henson did miss a penalty for the visitors but Leinster looked in control during the early stages, mainly through the dominance of the pack.

But scrum-half O'Riordan took most of the glory in the 20th minute when his clean break helped give Leinster further breathing space. The powerful thrust led to a ruck from where the ball was swept out wide to John McWeeney and the big winger made no mistake in driving past the cover for a try that Leek converted.

Henson responded quickly with a penalty but then Leinster should really have gone further ahead. Winger Brendan Burke kicked when he might have attacked a stretched defence and Gavin Hickie's flick pass under the legs went astray and into touch.

The visitors found themselves down to 14 men when Lyndon Bateman tackled Gordon D'Arcy high although one suspected the yellow card shown by referee David Changleng was more a reaction to the crowd rather than to his own interpretation of the offence.

But immediately Leinster went further in front when star forward Des Dillon finished off a great movement started by Leek. The out half converted for a 21-3 advantage.

Henson kicked successive penalties leaving it 21-9 to Leinster at the break and no less than they deserved.

The second half started in explosive fashion with the visitors scorching in for a try courtesy of winger Elvis Sevalal'l and Leek responding with a drop goal after Leinster had pounded the Ospreys' line for five full minutes.

But the visitors had their turn as well and, following a long spell in the ascendancy, grabbed another try from Henson who also converted to narrow the gap to just three points.

Ospreys flanker Steve Tandy was also shown yellow for deliberate offside as Leinster surged to within inches of the line. The visitors were lucky not to concede a penalty try and Leinster had to be satisfied with three points from the boot of Leek.

The match was far from a foregone conclusion. O'Riordan did well to knock Gavin Thomas into touch as the flanker drove for the line but the Ospreys hardly helped themselves by knocking on twice close to Leinster's line.

Neither did they do themselves any favours losing two more of their own line outs and Leinster took full advantage to work their way out of trouble and earn another penalty. Leek made no mistake from 20 metres three minutes from the end.

After weathering another late storm, Warner broke up an attack close to his own line and set off on the long run to the line for Leinster's fourth try.

LEINSTER: G. D'Arcy, J. McWeeney, K. Lewis, C. Warner, B. Burke, M. Leek, B. O'Riordan, J. Lyne, G. Hickie, E. Byrne, A. Kearney, B. Gissing, A. McCullen (captain), D. Dillon, S. Jennings. Replacements. D. Quinlan for Lewis (50, injured), D. Blaney for Hickie (60, injured), G. Brennan for D'Arcy (77, injured), N. Breslin for Kearney (80) Temporary, D. Blaney for Hickie (35-40)

NEATH-SWANSEA OSPREYS. G. Henson, D. Tiueti, J. Storey, S. Gibbs, E. Sevalul'l, S. Connor, A. Williams, P. James, C. Wells, A. Millward, A. Newman, L. Bateman, G. Thomas, N. Bonner-Evans, S. Tandy. Replacements. L Tait for Bateman (54), B. Williams for C. Wells (66), J. Bater for Tandy (77), T. Griffiths for James (80)

Referee: D Changleng (Scotland).