Leinster on top for now after bonus win over Blues

Cardiff Blues 22 Leinster 34

Defending champions Leinster moved back to the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table with their sixth successive victory over Cardiff. The visitors race into a 14-0 lead after only 17 minutes and it looked ominous for the Welsh region, but they passed the ball about without inhibition from then on and played their part in an entertaining encounter for a crowd of barely 5,000.

Leinster ran in four tries to the hosts’ three, with Jimmy Gopperth finishing with 14 points thanks to two penalties and four conversions. Having lost only once in their last 14 meetings with the Welsh region, Leinster fielded a completely new pack from that which destroyed the Newport Gwent Dragons’ scrum last weekend.

And the newcomers were confident enough to opt for a second scrum when the Blues were penalised at the game’s first setpiece. When the ball ran loose number eight Jack Conan, formerly of St Gerard’s College in Bray, picked up and stretched over to the satisfaction of the TMO. Gopperth converted.

Leinster and Ireland scrumhalf Eoin Reddan was then held up beneath the posts, but they spread the ball left and hooker Richardt Strauss, back from injury, crossed by the flag. Gopperth converted superbly.

But the Blues hit back, with outhalf Gareth Davies jinking through to touch down under the posts for a try reminiscent of his winning score in October’s Heineken Cup victory over Toulon. He also added the easy conversion. With centre Isaia Tuifua repeatedly breaking the first line of Leinster defenders, the Welsh region began to pose a few problems, but they slipped further behind when Gopperth slotted over a penalty.

The Blues should have responded immediately when their Irish number eight Robin Copeland burst clear, but he ignored two men outside him to go on his own and was hauled down. But the home team did managed another try before the interval.

Leinster lock Tom Denton was yellow-carded, Davies put the resulting penalty into touch and the Blues eight, growing in self-belief, drove over for hooker Kristian Dacey to claim his fifth score of the season.

Davies opened the second period with a penalty to cut the gap to two points, but Gopperth replied with a low effort which skidded over off the bar. And the former Newcastle man had no trouble converting after Leinster prop Michael Bent dived over from close range.

Leinster clinched their bonus point when Reddan trotted over unhindered. Gopperth again added the extras.

The Blues would not lie down and lively fullback Dan Fish celebrated a new contract with a deserved try, improved by Davies, but there was to be no further scoring.