Lowe off the mark with try double as Leinster win easily
LEINSTER warmed up nicely for next weekend’s European Challenge Cup trip to Exeter with a comfortable bonus point win over Treviso at Stadio Monigo, their eighth victory from 10 Pro 14 games this season.
Leo Cullen was without many of his front line internationals but the return of Garry Ringrose for his first game of the season and a debut appearance for New Zealand import James Lowe have given the coach extra options behind the scrum.
Lowe enjoyed a fine campaign with the Chiefs in Super rugby, scoring 11 tries, and the winger needed only 17 minutes to open his account for his new club.
The 25 year old looked hungry for work throughout and added a second late on while Ringrose will be relieved to have come through 70 minutes of his comeback game following five months out with a shoulder injury and also got on the scoresheet as Leinster powered clear in the second half.
Treviso ran Ulster close in Belfast last week when only a late Andrew Trimble try deprived them of a rare away win and with just two changes in their team, they started well and deserved their early lead which came courtesy of a ninth minute penalty from Tomasso Allan when Andrew Porter infringed.
Leinster gradually picked up the tempo though and when Ross Byrne opted to kick a penalty to the corner after 17 minutes, Scott Fardy won the lineout, Luke McGrath fed Lowe on the blindside and the winger easily broke through Benvenuti’s tackle to touch down in the corner.
Byrne added the extras and slotted a penalty eight minutes later to stretch the lead to 10-3 and with Leinster well on top, Jordi Murphy ran a lovely line from a ruck inside the 22 to race in for their second try seven minutes before the break.
The visitors were well on top and although the pack were held up just short from the final play of the half, a 17-3 interval lead was a fair reflection of their dominance.
Treviso grabbed a lifeline when Nacho Brex ran on to Gori’s pop pass to touch down under the posts with Allan converting to cut the deficit to 17-10 but Brex was sinbinned for a no arms tackle in the build up to Leinster’s third try which Ringrose finished off with some neat footwork in the right corner.
Fine interplay between Noel Reid and Lowe paved the way for scrum half McGrath to sprint clear for the bonus point try with 15 minutes remaining and the impressive Lowe grabbed Leinster’s fifth when Noel Reid put him clear with a fine long pass.
A lovely break by Jordan Larmour almost created a sixth try for Leinster as Cullen could afford to empty the bench with next week in mind and seemingly no fresh injuries to upset his plans.
Byrne landed five kicks out of six in another fine display and with the likes of Johnny Sexton, Tadhg Furlong and Sean O’Brien, amongst others, set to return next week, Leinster will be spoiled for choice for what will undoubtedly be a far tougher assignment.