FIVE-STAR BLUES BACK ON TOP
Leinster 31 Edinburgh 7
LEINSTER returned to the top of the PRO14’S Conference B after a bonus-point victory over 14-man Edinburgh at the RDS last night.
Wingers Fergus Mcfadden and James Lowe both touched down as Leo Cullen’s side led 12-0 following a very physical first half, the Irish province absorbing a long period of Edinburgh pressure in between those tries.
Magnus Bradbury’s lone seven-pointer for the Scots was followed by scores from Jordan Larmour and Jonathan Sexton, the latter securing the bonus point on his 150th Leinster appearance.
Edinburgh’s woes were compounded by replacement prop Pierre Schoeman’s red card for leading with the elbow into a 70th-minute tackle from Dan Leavy.
Garry Ringrose’s late breakaway try wrapped up the scoring but the first try had arrived from Devin Toner’s charge-down of Sean Kennedy’s 15th-minute kick. Having scooped up possession, Toner was chopped down short of the line before Mcfadden wriggled over from the ruck. Approaching half-time, a lineout was reversed in Leinster’s favour and they took full advantage, a free-flowing loop move ending with Larmour’s pass putting Lowe over in the corner (inset).
Edinburgh boss Richard Cockerill’s half-time words seemed to work a treat as Duhan van der Merwe’s brilliant break paved the way for No.8 Bradbury to reach over.
But Larmour then danced in for his try before Sexton, using a smart dummy, slipped through to cross the whitewash and convert in his final act.
Edinburgh leaked a fifth try two minutes from the end, Ringrose darting clear from halfway.