Leinster race to the top
Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:24
Back at the top: Leinster heads the Magners League
Leinster returned to the top of the Magners League, courtesy of an excellent 29-20 victory over the Cardiff Blues in Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday.
The visitors had centre Fergus McFadden to thank for their 16-12 half-time lead, boosted by a well-executed eighth minute try - where he took a deft inside pass from Shaun Berne after a spell of forward pressure - and 11 points from his boot.
Gary Powell, Sam Warburton and Chris Czekaj scored Blues tries and Ben Blair and Ceri Sweeney kicked penalties as the home side rallied in spurts, but a 50th-minute Bernard Jackman try - after some excellent play by the impressive Eoin O'Malley - a second McFadden conversion, a Shaun Berne drop-goal and a fourth McFadden penalty sealed the win.
Speaking after the game Leinster Coach Michael Cheika was obviously delighted.
"I was pleased that the younger guys who had an opportunity to play stood up quite well and even though there's so much to play for still, we're focused on the performance and we're pleased with how we went," Cheika said.
"We knew that we'd have to defend for long periods and then take our opportunities when they came and it was important for us to capitalise on the opportunities that came our way.
"We made a decision to play some of the younger players and the likes of Andrew Conway and Eoin O'Malley - who hasn't played a lot in the Magners League - did well.
"We haven't had a lot of continuity in the Magners League so far this year so we haven't been as fluent in our play, but we showed real character which is pleasing.
"It's a happy dressing-room in there, as it should be."
The scorers:
For Cardiff:
Tries: Powell, Warburton, Czekaj
Con: Blair
Pen: Blair
For Leinster:
Tries: McFadden, Jackman
Cons: McFadden 2
Pens:
McFadden 4
DG: Berne
Teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Tom James, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Tom Shanklin, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Paul Tito (captain), 4 Scott Morgan, 3 Gary Powell, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Taufa'ao Filise.
Replacements: 16 Huw Dowden, 17 Scott Andrews, 18 Andries Pretorius, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 Sam Norton-Knight, 22 Dafydd Hewitt.
Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Stephen Keogh, 7 Shane Jennings (captain), 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Devin Toner, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Stan Wright.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Mike Ross, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Paul O'Donohoe, 21 Ian Madigan, 22
Simon Keogh
Referee: Andy McPherson
Assistant Referees: Leighton Hodges (WRU), Phil Connett (WRU)
TMO: Hugh Watkins (WRU)
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