Four-try Leinster too strong for Connacht
PA Sport Staff
Leinster scored four tries as they claimed a 34-23 victory over Connacht.
The last meeting between both teams saw Leinster earn a huge 52-17 win at the beginning of January, and they opened the scoring eight minutes into the contest when Fintan Gunne sneaked over following a period of pressure on the tryline, with Harry Byrne kicking the extras.
Dylan Tierney-Martin quickly replied for Connacht after powering over the line, with Sam Gilbert converting, and Gilbert and Byrne both kicked two penalties each within 10 minutes of each other to level the score 13-13 at half-time.
Connacht took the lead after the break when a team move switched play to the left flank and Finn Treacy made a sharp offload to Harry West, who cut in to ground before Gilbert added the conversion.
RG Snyman and Charlie Tector suddenly scored two tries in quick succession, with Byrne converting both, to put Leinster in front before Gilbert closed the gap with a penalty kick.
However, Ciaran Frawley touched down in the corner to score Leinster’s fourth try of the match and Byrne converted to secure a seventh URC win of the campaign so far.
Meanwhile, winger Ellis Mee’s spectacular late try handed Scarlets just a third win of their United Rugby Championship campaign as Ulster slipped to a 27-22 defeat in Llanelli.
An early penalty from fly-half Sam Costelow set the hosts on their way, and they were 10-0 ahead in short order following full-back Blair Murray’s 10th-minute touchdown, which was converted by Costelow.
Ulster hooker Tom Stewart dragged the visitors back into it with a 20th-minute effort, although scrum-half Nathan Doak missed the conversion, and they were ahead within seven minutes when, after number eight Bryn Ward had gone over, Doak obliged with the kick.
However, flanker Josh Macleod’s try and two more points from Costelow’s boot sent the hosts in at the break with a 17-12 lead.
The Welsh side were up against it when back row Taine Plumtree was given a 66th-minute yellow card and the visitors swiftly took advantage, replacement Scott Wilson going over and Doak made it 19-17 in their favour.
Costelow and Doak traded penalties, but it was the home side who snatched the win with the clock in the red when, after winger Werner Kok had been sent to the sin bin, Mee raced 50m to score the game’s sixth and final try and Doak extended the gap to a decisive five points.
