Leinster secure URC bonus point win over Scarlets

Joshua Kenny scores Leinster's sixth try. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

URC: Leinster 36 Scarlets 19

It wasn’t their most polished performance of the campaign to date, but Leinster ultimately moved up to third in the United Rugby Championship table with a bonus point triumph over Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium.

Coming into this game on the back of consecutive defeats to Cardiff and Glasgow Warriors, Leinster fell behind in the 17th minute when an incisive grubber kick from Johnny Williams was seized upon by his centre partner Joe Roberts for a breakthrough try. 

Joe Hawkins added the extras to this score and in addition to falling seven points adrift, Leinster simultaneously lost lock Brian Deeny to a yellow card for 10 minutes.

Yet the sin-binning of Roberts for a deliberate knock-on at the beginning of the second quarter meant their numerical deficiency didn’t last long and Scarlets flanker Jarrod Taylor was also yellow carded just as Deeny was resuming his place in the Leinster pack.

This provided the hosts with all the incentive they needed and following a strong carry from Doris off a set-piece move, Gibson-Park and Jamie Osborne combined before Garry Ringrose touched down to the right of the posts for a converted score.

While the return of Roberts looked set to be a boost for Scarlets, Leinster led 12-7 at the end of a scrappy opening period thanks to a well-worked team try from Joshua Kenny in the 34th minute.

Scarlets were still in contention for just their fifth league win of the season on the resumption, but a blistering start to the second half from Leinster ultimately left them with a mountain to climb.

Just 13 days on from claiming a brace of tries in Ireland’s Triple Crown-clinching victory over Scotland at the same venue, Tommy O’Brien amassed the same tally by rounding off intricate attacks in the 43rd and 45th minutes.

Alex Soroka is tackled by Scarlets players Fletcher Anderson, left, and Kemsley Mathias. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Cullen opted to introduce a plethora of replacements either side of O’Brien’s second try, including Sam Prendergast for another outing at full-back.

Tadhg Furlong, Gibson-Park, Porter and Doris (albeit temporarily) were some of the other players to depart the scene in a third-quarter that saw Leinster leaking a try to Scarlets winger Tom Rogers off a quick move inside the ‘22’ on 58 minutes.

This was a warning sign to Leinster despite them having already secured a bonus point, but the pressure was eased on the home team when a powerful finish by Max Deegan off a five metre drive was awarded by referee Aimee Barrett-Theron following consultation with TMO Quinton Immelman.

This try was a timely boost for Leinster, given Scarlets fired back with a converted score of their own from second row Max Douglas with just eight minutes of normal time remaining.

Scarlets might have been within reach of a losing bonus point had it not been for Deegan adding his name to the scoresheet, but there was enough time left on the clock for Kenny to add his second try in the 75th minute.

This ensures Leinster leapfrog Ulster in the table ahead of their trip to Zebre Parma on Saturday evening.

Scorers for Leinster: Tries: T O’Brien 2, J Kenny 2, G Ringrose, M Deegan Cons: H Byrne 3.

Scorers for Scarlets: Tries: J Roberts, T Rogers, M Douglas Cons: J Hawkins 2.

LEINSTER: J O’Brien (S Prendergast 47); T O’Brien, G Ringrose (R Henshaw 5-15 & 45), J Osborne (R Henshaw 37 to h-t), J Kenny; H Byrne, J Gibson-Park (F Gunne 55); A Porter (J Cahir 45), D Sheehan (G McCarthy 63), T Furlong (R Slimani 45); J McCarthy, B Deeny (C O’Tighearnaigh 67); M Deegan, J van der Flier, C Doris (A Soroka 56-63 & 77).

SCARLETS: B Murray; T Rogers (I Jones 62), J Roberts, J Williams, E Mee (M Page 35); J Hawkins, D Blacker (A Hughes 48); K Mathias (S O’Connor 63), Harry Thomas (G Roberts 48), Henry Thomas (H O’Connor 55); S Lousi (J Ball 77), M Douglas; J Taylor, D Davis (T Davies 71), F Anderson.

Referee: A Barrett-Theron (SARU).