PRO 12 RESULTS
FRIDAY
LEINSTER 34-34 GLASGOW
BOSS DOUBLE GIVES
LEINSTER 3 POINTS
The Warriors were on top in the first half, establishing a
27-7 lead as Peter Horne converted tries from Stuart Hogg, Richie Vernon and
Mark Bennett.
Returning to the scene of last May's Pro12 final defeat, the
Scots made early inroads and deservedly took a 7-0 lead after as many minutes.
Vernon's midfield offload gave Hogg the opportunity to fend
off Eoin Reddan's tackle and place the ball at the left-hand post with Horne
converting.
Horne punished a line-out infringement for three more points
as Leinster struggled for possession.
A strong carry from Tom Denton sparked a prolonged spell of
Leinster pressure inside the Glasgow 22.
The visitors' defence held firm until Shane Jennings and
Jimmy Gopperth combined to release McFadden to go over in the right corner.
Madigan converted with aplomb for 10-7.
However, the Leinster defensive line gave way soon after as
Tommy Seymour made ground on the right and centre Vernon used his size to take
contact and stretch over to score just to the right of the posts. Horne's
conversion restored the 10-point buffer.
A third converted try followed for the Warriors six minutes
before the break.
Centre Bennett burst on to Niko Matawalu's flat pass and
evaded McFadden's clutches before crashing over by the posts. Bennett added a
long-range penalty in injury-time, widening the gap to 20 points.
The second half was just 25 seconds old when Bryce, who
replaced the injured Hogg, had his clearance kick blocked by Boss and the
Leinster replacement scrum-half won the race to touch down the loose ball.
Madigan swept the conversion over and he quickly tagged on a
penalty, with front-rowers Cian Healy and Sean Cronin making an impact off the
bench.
But the game took on a completely different complexion after
Fijian Matawalu was sin-binned for elbowing Healy off the ball.
Leinster responded with two tries in three minutes, flanker
Murphy avoiding three tackles on a terrific run in from the 10-metre line
before Boss completed his brace off the back of a ruck.
Madigan converted both for a sudden 31-27 lead.
There were yet more twists and turns and Leinster, who have
a fight on their hands to reach the play-offs, may yet rue their failure to see
this result out.
The Glasgow forwards took up the baton from a couple of
penalties and close-in mauls before Pyrgos and Horne passed wide to the left
where Bryce went over unopposed. Horne held his nerve to ensure a share of the
spoils for his side.
I AM GOING TO LOOK AT ULSTER BLUES TOMORROW AS I WOULD LIKE
TO GO INTO DETAIL ON A FEW INCIDENTS AS I WAS THERE
SATURDAY
SCARLETS 15-26
EDINBURGH
BURLEIGH AND DENTON
TRIES GIVE EDINBURGH WIN
Replacement scrum-half Gareth Davies was sent off for a
headbutt soon after coming on in the 57th minute.
Full-back Jack Cuthbert's offload set up the counter-attack
that led to the opening try for Burleigh.
The Edinburgh centre went over after a well-timed one-two
with wing Visser.
Hidalgo-Clyne added the conversion only for Shingler to kick
four more penalties by the 25th minute.
And the visitors took the lead at the break after number
eight Denton went over and Hidalgo-Clyne converted.
Alan Solomons' side remained in the lead and exerted
increasing control as the game wore on.
Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac sent on Davies in a bid to regain
the initiative.
But when the twice-capped scrum-half's tussle included a
head-butt on centre Andries Strauss, Irish referee John Lacey had no hesitation
in banishing the Scarlet.
MUNSTER 42-20 CONNACHT
HOLLAND TRY AND
OTHERS GIVE MUNSTER VICTORY
The hosts scored five of their six tries in the final 25
minutes at a wet and windy Thomond Park to take a step closer to securing a
play-off spot.
An error-strewn first half ended 7-3 in the home side's
favour but Munster were the dominant force in the second half.
A second Carty penalty made it a one-point game before
Munster went up through the gears on the hour mark, setting up tries for Duncan
Casey, Simon Zebo and Andrew Smith, with captain Denis Hurley and Keith Earls
also touching down in the dying minutes.
OSPREYS 53-20 ZEBRE
BAKER DOUBLE ALLOWS
THE OSPREYS TO BE IN THEIR OWN
The Ospreys made a flying start as Davies made up for
missing a penalty by carving open the visitors' defence for Baker to gallop
over, Davies adding the conversion.
Then from a scrum five, Baker's pickup saw Josh Matavesi
crash over on an inside angle and the Ospreys had a 14 point lead in just eight
minutes as Davies slotted over the kick.
The Ospreys' third try came after 35 minutes when Tyler
Ardron burst through and timed his pass perfectly for Baldwin to cross in the
corner, Davies converting from the touchline.
But the Italians hit back with the last move of the first
half as wing Dion Berryman squeezed over in the corner from a scrum-five,
making it 27-8 at the interval.
Baker charged over for the fourth after 51 minutes as he
burst 25 metres and ran through the last defender.
Wales scrum-half Webb, on as a replacement, rubbed salt in
the wounds by forcing his way over for a close-range score-his 10th Ospreys
score of the season, and creating a penalty try when he was obstructed, then
Dirksen squeezed in at the corner for the seventh.
Davies landed a total of five conversions while Dan Biggar
added the extras to the penalty try.
But Zebre still had some resistance left as Toniolatti's
interception breakaway and a last-minute try from Chillon added some
respectability to the scoreline, with Mirco Bergamasco converting both.
A dead leg for Josh Matavesi was the only minor injury
reported by the Ospreys, who next travel to Treviso after a weekend off
TREVISO 17-32 DRAGONS
PRYDIE DOUBLE GIVES
DRAGONS BONUS POINT
Tom Prydie scored two late tries to help Newport Gwent
Dragons see off a fightback and record a first Pro12 win in Treviso.
The wing also kicked three conversions and two penalties in
a man-of-the-match display.
Lyn Jones' side built a 17-0 lead by the break, inspired by
the Evans snipe that broke Treviso's early resistance.
Jonathan Evans broke the early deadlock and Hallam Amos also
raced away.
Enrico Bacchin's try, Jayden Hayward's kicking and a penalty
try brought Treviso back, but Dragons held their nerve and Prydie did the rest.
The Welsh region had previously won at Stadio Monigo in the
European Cup in 2007.
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