Old and new guard shine for Leinster as Dragons downed

Leinster 37 Dragons 12: Isa Nacewa and Fergus McFadden led by example at the RDS on Saturday, when their combined tally of 27 points helped Leinster to a comprehensive victory over Newport Gwent Dragons in the Guinness Pro12.

The experienced duo were crucial in guiding Leo Cullen’s charges to a second successive league triumph, but the youthful exuberance of Garry Ringrose and Cathal Marsh also provided the hosts with a creative spark against their Welsh visitors. Try-scorer Marsh produced a man-of-the-match display in the Ballsbridge venue, and following their home and away defeats to the Dragons last season, the St Mary’s College man felt it was important to lay down a marker on their home patch. Marsh admitted: “That was the big focus this week. The fact that Dragons beat us twice last year, and they really bullied us in those games. We were just determined not to be bullied this year.

“Obviously, we were just focused on getting the win at the start, but when you have a few tries, and you’re a few points up, you’re definitely thinking to try and get that fifth point.