ON CLOUD 9
Cian brace extends Leinster’s perfect start to the season
RUGBY PRO 14
LEINSTER won their ninth straight game of the season as Cian Kelleher two tries proved crucial in Scotstoun.
Ruaridh Jackson’s early double for Warriors had put them in control as they threatened to run riot, but Kelleher ran in two tries in four minutes, while Ross Byrne’s brilliant kicking performance wrapped up the win.
This wasn’t all plain sailing for Leinster though. Less than three minutes had elapsed when Hugo Keenan was yellow carded for a push and it only took the home side two minutes to take advantage when Jackson crossed in the right corner.
It was a tough start for Leo Cullen’s side, but before Keenan returned Ross Byrne kicked their first points, which made it 5-3. Leinster settled well after that score, but it was their hosts that struck again 17 minutes from the interval when Ali Price’s long pass sent Jackson in for his second try.
While Warriors were dangerous at that stage, Leinster hit them with a brilliant double strike in the space of four minutes to claim the lead at half time. It was Conor O’brien’s fend and pass that sent Kelleher over in the corner for the first try after half an hour, and Byrne’s super conversion levelled the scores.
Straight away Leinster wend in search of their second try, and after a lineout on the right they ran though a couple of slick phases and Keenan’s offload sent Kelleher in for another converted try, which out them 17-10 ahead at half-time.
Matawalu continued to be a dangerous runner for Glasgow after the break, but eight minutes after the restart his linebreak came to nothing when he lost his feet at a key moment.
And Leinster didn’t waste their chance to stretch their lead. A less than perfect display in the scrum before the break was rectified at the interval, and when the Leinster pack earned a penalty Ross Byrne chipped over the easy kick to make it 20-10.
With a comfortable lead to protect, Leinster went in search of tries and after a driving maul was illegally halted, their second attempt from close range fell short after a sloppy lineout.
An Oisin Dowling lineout steal propelled Leinster forward again though, and after Adam Ashe infringed on the wrong side of a ruck, Ross Byrne kicked Leinster into a 13-point lead.
There was a return to the field for Fergus Mcfadden in the closing stages following his injury lay-off, and he denied Jackson a hat-trick with a super tackle three minutes from time and Leinster held on for a seventh straight league win