Tries galore as Leinster and Munster run riot
LEINSTER reclaimed top spot in the URC from Ulster with a 61-17 thrashing of Benetton in Treviso.
Max Deegan, Sean Cronin, Jordan Larmour and Ross Byrne earned Leinster a bonus point by half-time, with a single penalty from Rhyno Smith the only response Benetton could muster before the interval.
The hosts did touch down twice in the second half but Cronin’s second and two tries each for James Tracy and Jimmy O’Brien saw Leinster to a comfortable victory, with Byrne also kicking 14 points.
Deegan powered over from close range for Leinster’s first try after a totally dominant opening five minutes. Player of the match Byrne added the extras before Smith got Benetton off the mark with a penalty seven minutes later.
When Cronin went over from a driving maul. Byrne’s conversion made it 14-3 after 24 minutes and he was on target again when a third try quickly followed – Larmour exploiting a gap to go over.
Leinster had their bonus point by half-time, thanks to a fantastic team try initiated by a rapid counterattack from Jimmy O’Brien,
Tommy O’Brien and Larmour, with Byrne eventually applying the finish and converting for a 28-3 scoreline at the break.
Cronin emerged from another line-out maul to cross for his second try seven minutes into the second half, again converted by Byrne, but Benetton went over when secondrow Nicola Piantella picked up from the back of a ruck and darted for the line. Smith’s conversion took the hosts into double figures but sub hooker Tracy resumed the Leinster onslaught with a close-range finish and Byrne made it 42-10.
Jimmy O’Brien ran in under the posts to give Byrne an easy seventh conversion but the fly-half hit both posts and the crossbar after Tracy’s second – his first miss of the match.
Lorenzo Cannone touched down and Smith split the posts as Benetton showed some signs of life but O’Brien converted his own try to round off a pleasing afternoon’s work for Leinster.
Meanwhile, Munster were in complete control as they handed the Dragons a 64-3 defeat at Thomond Park. The home side sauntered into a 28-3 half-time lead, with young fly-half Jack Crowley converting tries from Craig Casey (2), captain Jack O’Donoghue and Chris Cloete.
Sam Davies’ 16th-minute penalty proved to be the Welsh region’s only score on a deflating night for Dean Ryan’s men. With their bonus point secured by the 36th minute, Munster cruised home with further scores from Simon Zebo, Chris Farrell, Shane Daly, Cloete, replacement John Hodnett and O’Donoghue.