COLD & CALLOUS
Ruthless Leinster show league leaders no mercy on a freezing Dublin night
LEINSTER’S second half display melted Ulster’s RDS challenge in sub- zero temperatures last night.
On a near-frozen pitch that had match officials concerned beforehand, the Blues came from behind at half- time to secure a vital victory over the Conference A leaders.
A second win for Ulster here in 18 attempts would have put them practically out of sight in the race to make the PRO14 final at the reigning champions’ expense.
But instead Leinster now only trail their interpro rivals by five points – and still have two games in hand – as they got the bounce back they wanted from last weekend’s surprise home loss to Connacht.
Ulster made the bright start they wanted but failed to cross the whitewash, with man of the match Hugo Keenan in the right place to deny Matt Faddes after he charged down a Jamison Gibson- Park clearance.
And while Johnny Sexton didn’t bring his kicking boots, Leinster’s four tries – including three in the second half – put them out of sight.
Looking back, Ulster will be disappointed they didn’t score more than three points in the opening 12 minutes when they were virtually camped inside the hosts’ half as the hits kept coming on a high- stakes night.
They did draw first blood when Ethan Mcilroy’s path to a John Cooney up and under was illegally blocked off.
Cooney split the posts with a 15th minute penalty.
Sexton had the chance for a quick reply after Leinster won a scrum penalty but miscued his effort.
Showing nice skills in possession, Ross Byrne – playing at 13 for Leinster for the first time – pushed them back deep into Ulster territory and a Leinster penalty ensued for a high hit by Marcell Coetzee.
Sex ton kicked to the five metre line and although Sean Cronin and Josh van der Flier were held up just short, the Blues worked it back for Dave Kearney to squeeze in at the corner ( below) for his first try in 16 games against Ulster.
Sexton missed the difficult conversion attempt and, after 24 minutes, Leinster led 5- 3.
It could have got worse for Ulster on the half-hour when Coetzee was sin- binned for a shoulder to the head of Cronin but Leinster’s push to take advantage was halted by James Hume’s breakdown penalty win.
Billy Burns kicked Ulster back into the hosts’ 22 and the visitors edged ahead through the boot of Cooney, punishing James Ryan’ s side entry at the maul.
Lein-ster came again, this time with Gibson- Park’s superb break and offload to Ryan. But former Leinster back row Jordi Murphy produced another big turnover penalty and, soon after, Cooney scored his third penalty with the last action of the half.
But Ulster’s four- point lead was short lived, with their opponents immediately turning the screw through a Scott Fardy’s penalty win off Michael Lowry.
Cronin muscled over for a 44th minute try that Sexton did convert and, crucially, there was to be no instant retaliation at the other end as the home side kept the pressure on.
Jordan Larmour was held up over the Ulster line but there was no stopping Robbie Henshaw in the 51st minute as the centre danced over.
Leinster were well in control until Larmour was forced into touch by Nick Timoney with 10 minutes to go and, when James Tracy went off his feet, Cooney continued his successful kicking streak.
Suddenly there was only a try between the sides but Tracy’s 76th minute bonus point try and Byrne’s conversion ended Ulster’s hopes.
LEINSTER SCORERS: Tries – D Kearney, J Cronin, RH en shaw, J Tracy. Cons–J Sexton, R Byrne
ULSTER: Pens – J Cooney 4