Jamie Osborne and Charlie Tector cross for first-half tries as Leinster beat Connacht 20-12 at Aviva Stadium; Oisin Dowling and Shane Jenning cross in second half to arrange large end however Leinster maintain on to make it 10 wins from 10 in all competitions this season
Final Up to date: 21/12/24 10:26pm
Charlie Tector is congratulated after crossing for Leinster’s second attempt
United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster made it 10 wins from 10 in all competitions however needed to work arduous for a 20-12 victory over Connacht on the Aviva Stadium.
Tries from Andrew Osborne and Charlie Tector gave Leinster a 14-0 half-time lead, though they need to have made extra of a yellow card for Connacht centre Shane Jennings.
After watching Ross Byrne kick a penalty, Connacht capitalised on Lee Barron’s sin-binning to make it a five-point recreation, with Oisin Dowling and Jennings each crossing.
Mack Hansen was rising in affect for the Westerners, but a scrappy last 20 minutes ended with Leinster fly-half Byrne clinching the end result with a 79th-minute penalty.
With 13 modifications from final week, Leo Cullen’s males utilized early strain. Connacht dug in defensively with Bundee Aki and Jennings developing with essential performs.
Nineteen minutes in, Byrne used a zippy transfer off what was a largely unreliable Leinster lineout to ship Osborne racing over. Byrne transformed.
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Jennings then noticed yellow for a late deal with on Luke McGrath and Connacht’s midfield was opened up once more. Barrett neatly slipped Tector via to attain, with Byrne changing.
Connacht briefly gained momentum via the working of Paul Boyle and Josh Ioane, till the latter needed to come off injured.
Darragh Murray’s potential to steal Leinster’s lineout ball was a giant optimistic for the guests, together with Shamus Hurley-Langton’s turnover wins.
Enjoying into the wind on the restart, Byrne pushed the margin out to 17 factors however Connacht responded nicely.
Leinster’s repeated penalties landed alternative Barron within the sin bin within the 51st minute, and the ensuing faucet penalty led to Dowling burrowing over.
Hurley-Langton and Hansen offered additional spark, and with Leinster more and more slim in defence, Jennings was despatched in behind the posts. Forde’s conversion closed the hole to 17-12.
Connacht captain Cian Prendergast did brilliantly to carry up Barron, denying him a sure attempt on the 70-minute mark.
Jimmy O’Brien was then binned for taking Hansen out within the air to offer the guests hope, nevertheless it was Byrne who had the ultimate say for the desk toppers.
