Leinster proved too strong for Glasgow Warriors as the BKT United Rugby Championship resumed this afternoon, as Leo Cullen’s side ran in six tries to claim a 40-5 victory at the RDS.
Under a grey November skyline at the RDS, both sides would come out of the blocks flying. A frenetic start would see George Horne signal his intention to keep the tempo high, whilst an enterprising early dart from Jamie Osborne signalled the attacking options at Leinster’s disposal.
It would be the hosts who would open the scoring to the roaring approval of the Dublin crowd, and it would come in clinical fashion. Successive attacking lineouts in the Glasgow 22 would see advantage awarded to Leinster, and two wide passes from Ross Byrne and Osborne would give Dave Kearney enough time to race over and evade the tackle of Kyle Steyn. Byrne’s conversion would make it 7-0, with just seven minutes on the clock.
Leinster’s second score would arrive just four minutes later, albeit in more contentious fashion. A blindside break from Charlie Ngatai would see the centre seemingly tackled into touch by Gregor Brown and Horne, only for the TMO to deem otherwise when reviewing the play. As a result, Rob Russell would be the grateful recipient of Ngatai’s offload, Byrne converting for a 14-0 lead.
Still the Warriors looked to play their own game, with Horne at the heart of his team’s efforts to keep the tempo high. A quick tap penalty saw the scrum-half combine with Josh McKay to take play deep into the Leinster 22, with only the home side’s scramble defence denying a score.
It was to be a different story at the other end on 22 minutes, as Leinster crossed for their third try of the half. From a lineout 30 metres from the Glasgow line, Luke McGrath identified a gap and timed his pass to send Russell over for his second of the match, Byrne converting from the touchline for a 21-0 lead.
Yet it would be the Warriors who finished the half on top, as Franco Smith’s men searched for a foothold back into the match. Tom Jordan and Horne each saw their efforts denied by some last-ditch defence from the hosts, whilst an inside ball from the barnstorming Sione Vailanu would almost send the impressive Alex Samuel over with virtually the last play of the half.
The momentum was with the Warriors, who picked up where they left off at the onset of the second stanza. A thunderous carry from Vailanu put his team on the front foot, before Stafford McDowall and Oli Kebble would combine to send Murphy Walker on a charge for the line. Whilst the prop was dragged down five metres out, Ronan Kelleher’s cynical intervention saw the Leinster hooker sent to the sin bin, and Glasgow go to the corner.
It was a choice that was almost immediately vindicated, only for the TMO to intervene. A peel move saw Gregor Brown driven over for what would have been a first professional try, had it not been for a pre-binding call from the officials.
Undeterred, the Warriors would get their reward on 47 minutes. Kyle Steyn’s initial line break was followed by Brown and Rufus McLean racing into the 22, before Samuel’s charge took him to within five metres. After Jack Dempsey and Vailanu would batter their way even closer, Horne’s looping pass found Steyn in enough space to put Sebastian Cancelliere over. The conversion drifted wide, but the Warriors were on the board.
As if stung by conceding, Leinster responded by once again applying pressure of their own. Despite robust defence from Walker and Samuel, the fourth try would arrive on 55 minutes, as Michael Milne forced his way over from close range. Byrne’s conversion made it 28-5, as the match entered its final quarter.
The Warriors would continue to bring energy to the attack, as Ross Thompson and Johnny Matthews’ respective introductions off the bench kept the intensity levels high. Leinster’s defence continued to hold firm, however, refusing to budge in the face of continued Glasgow possession.
Instead, it would be the hosts who would finish the stronger; first, it would be Russell who would celebrate a hat-trick, finishing off a move that began with a turnover from Max Deegan, before John McKee would finish off a counter-attack as the Warriors chased the game. The final score read 40-5, the curtain coming down on a tough afternoon in Dublin.
Smith’s men will swiftly dust themselves down and refocus ahead of next weekend – a Scottish-Italian Shield clash away to Zebre Parma awaits.
Leinster 
Glasgow Warriors 
