Leinster fall to fourth straight defeat

Cardiff Blues 22 Leinster 3

Australian coach Gary Ella is an unhappy man as his luckless Leinster side slumped to their fourth Celtic League of the season at Arms Park, to David Young’s Cardiff.

The Blues recovered from their Celtic Cup exit last Saturday, to take a three-try win over the 2002 champions and move into mid-table territory.

Ella’s men, missing eleven players to the Irish World Cup panel and also the services of first choice winger Gordon D’Arcy, started with a backline averaging just 23 years, but it was the home side who took the initiative early on in what was a scrappy game.

Out-half Nick Robinson couldn’t provide the ideal start as his fourth minute penalty veered away from the Leinster right upright before opposite number Matt Leek also was unsuccessful with his first kick at goal.

Cardiff flanker Dan Baugh, who was to turn in a man-of-the-match performance, was yellow-carded on eleven minutes, gifting him his third sin-binning of the tournament and a free weekend next week.

Robinson hit over the game’s first points soon after with a penalty before fiery blindside Baugh bustled over after 27 minutes for the game’s first try.

Cardiff had the visitors’ stretched as an offload from wing Nick Walne, well shackled by hooker Gavin Hickie, saw Baugh free five metres out.

A yellow card hit Leinster at the wrong time as number eight Des Dillon walked for a ruck infringement.

Lansdowne prop John Lyne was sidelined nearing the end of the first-half with a suspected broken left ankle, Leinster’s first injury of four on the night, as things went from bad to worse for Ella’s charges.

Kicker Leek hit the upright with his second kick in first half stoppage time before he managed to open Leinster’s account after the break with a well-struck penalty.

The Blues stepped it up as a 52nd minute offload from lock Jim Brownrigg sent Baugh skipping over for his and Cardiff’s second try.

Robinson converted and also added the points to the Blues’ third try six minutes later.

Winger Walne deservedly sneaked over in the corner as superb hands from the Welsh side gave the number 14 his first try of the season.

Leinster pressed for a try but were left short changed by a rugged Blues’ defence, and the loss of flanker Aidan McCullen, scrum-half Brian O’Riordan and captain Leo Cullen to injury.

Leinster stay routed to the bottom of the league table and ended for the first time this season failed to muster a bonus point on a very disappointing night all round.

They may be able to forget about this game in the mean time, but fate has it that Leinster have to meet Cardiff a further three times this season, as Young’s charges, benefiting from the inclusion of nine internationals tonight, provide Heineken Cup opposition in December.

Scorers: Cardiff: Baugh 2 tries, Walne try; Robinson 2 cons, pen

Leinster: Leek pen

Cardiff Blues: van Vuuren; N Walne, J Robinson, M Allen, C Morgan; N Robinson, R Powell; D Crompton, A Lewis (capt), B Evans, J Brownrigg, A Moore, D Baugh, N Thomas, R Sowden-Taylor.

Replacements: D McShane for Moore (49 mins), G McCarthy for van Vuuren (59 mins), R Appleyard for Baugh (68 mins), J Malpas for Thomas (73 mins), G Williams for Lewis (76 mins), J Yapp for Crompton (80 mins)

Leinster Lions: J Norton; J McWeeney, G Brown, D Quinlan, B Burke; M Leek, B O’Riordan; J Lyne, G Hickie, E Byrne, L Cullen (capt), B Gissing, A McCullen, S Jennings, D Dillon.

Replacements: P Coyle for Lyne (36 mins), N Breslin for McCullen (62 mins), B O’Meara for O’Riordan (73 mins), D Blaney for Dillon (77 mins), A Kearney for Cullen (78 mins), J Downey for Norton (81 mins)