Record man Sexton fires Leinster to derby victory

TWO tries from Rory O’Loughlin in the firsthalf helped Leinster to a fifth win of the season as they warmed up nicely for a tilt at the Champions Cup with a PRO14 victory over over arch rivals Munster.

Leinster wrapped up the win with three penalties from Johnny Sexton in the second half, but were pushed all the way by Munster who clinched a bonus point late on when Keith Earls ran in his second try.

With Joey Carbery a constant threat from fullback, capitalising on some loose Munster kicking, Leinster led 14-7 at the break, but coach Leo Cullen insisted there was still lots to improve on for his side.

“The guys put in a decent performance even though their tries were cheap scores to give away,” Cullen said. “We controlled the start of the second half, but turned the ball over and they went up the other end and scored.

“We are disappointed with the try at the end but over the course of 80 minutes we are pleased to beat a very good team.”

Following a high-octane start, Earls had a try disallowed for a forward pass after 13 minutes and Leinster took the lead four minutes later when O’Loughlin twisted and turned his way over the line. Sexton’s conversion made it 7-0.

A deliberate knock on saw Niall Scannell sent to the sin-bin after 21 minutes, but a man down Munster fought well and Ian Keatley’s intercept try and conversion levelled matters just before the half hour mark.

O’Loughlin claimed his second before halftime with Carbery claiming the assist and Sexton stretched the lead after the break from the tee. O’Donnell and Earls then linked well for Munster’s second try to claw it back to 17-12 after 48 minutes.

But Sexton added another two penalties to become Leinster’s alltime record points scorer, eclipsing Felipe Contepomi’s mark of 1,225, which meant Earls’ late try was worth only a losing bonus.

Munster coach Rassie Erasmus said: “We can only blame ourselves. It is hard when you concede eight penalties in the first half. We lost the game by the nine points from penalties and need to sort it out.”