Hickie's positive return

Representative friendlies/Leinster 23; Gloucester 15: There was precious little to recommend this contest other than it will hopefully have removed several layers of the rust that clogged both teams.

Leinster just about deserved their first success under new coach Gary Ella, but it will take several matches to fine-tune the new patterns.

There were several reasonably good performances from Leinster players, notably Eric Miller, Denis Hickie, Keith Gleeson and David Quinlan, and impressive cameos from Brendan Burke, Shane Jennings and Des Dillon.

The early season cobwebs were very much in evidence, both teams fumbling away possession, if not initially then from second or third phase. As a result the opening 40 minutes was very much a staccato affair.

The match wasn't helped by the interpretations of referee Simon McDowell, who was overly fussy at times and then missed glaring infringements. With both teams struggling to retain possession moments of genuine entertainment were few.

The watching Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan will have been pleased with the contribution of Hickie, playing his first competitive game after missing the national side's summer tour through injury. His initial contributions were long, welcome touch-finders, but gradually, he did manage to get a little ball into his hands.

The first occasion was hardly auspicious as, isolated in contact on the Leinster 10-metre line and with support slow to arrive, Gloucester turned the ball over and centre Henry Paul was allowed to race 35 metres for a soft try, which he would convert.

It allowed the visitors to lead 7-3 after nine minutes, Leinster outhalf Matt Leek having earlier kicked a penalty.

Leinster's response was measured, kicking a penalty to the corner, throwing twice to Leo Cullen and from the second close-in rumble they were awarded a penalty try to which Leek added the extra points.

The home side's lineout could hardly be described as a thing of beauty as three throw-ins went askew, but a solid scrum was more conducive to the game Leinster were trying to impose.

Miller and Gleeson both figured prominently in Leinster's better moments, and Kieran Lewis demonstrated quick feet and hands, but it was Hickie who looked the most likely game-breaker.

Three minutes from half-time it was the Irish wing whose change of angle and speed of foot cut through the Gloucester defence and Gleeson was on hand to take the scoring pass.

Leek converted and tagged on a penalty at the start of the second half to push the home side 20-7 in front.

As if to remind Leinster that errors can be costly, another lineout throw conceded gave Gloucester possession, but there seemed little danger from Robert Todd's chip ahead. The ball skidded awkwardly for Girvan Dempsey as he slid in to collect, however, and Todd was able to regather and force his way over.

Paul missed the conversion but tagged on a penalty to close the gap to 20-15.

Gordon D'Arcy - lively throughout - nearly latched on to Brian O'Meara's clever chip before Ella virtually emptied the bench, bringing on five players, including the returning Ben Gissing, after 60 minutes.

Todd and Junior Paramore were both guilty of some questionable tackling, but Gloucester were nonetheless holding on comfortably. Leinster should have extended their advantage on 70 minutes but D'Arcy was guilty of not giving Burke a run to the corner, electing to go alone and getting stopped yards short of the line.

Dillon had made an immediate impact on his arrival, carrying the ball with power and intelligence. When Gloucester were penalised at a lineout, Leek posted from 25 metres to nudge Leinster to a 23-15 lead which they kept to the finish.

Scoring sequence: 6 mins: Leek penalty, 3-0; 9 mins: Paul try, Paul conversion, 3-7; 20 mins: penalty try, Leek conversion, 10-7; 37 mins: Gleeson try, Leek conversion, 17-7. Half-time: 17-7. 41 mins: Leek penalty, 20-7; 44 mins: Todd try, 20-12; 53 mins: Paul penalty, 20-15; 74 mins: Leek penalty, 23-15.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; G D'Arcy, K Lewis, D Quinlan, D Hickie; M Leek, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, N Treston; B Gissing, L Cullen; A McCullen, E Miller, K Gleeson. Replacements: D Molloy for Corrigan; A Kearney for Gissing (both half-time); J McWeeney for Dempsey (51 mins); S Jennings for Gleeson; B O'Riordan for O'Meara; Gissing for Cullen; G Brown for Lewis; G Hickie for Byrne (all 60 mins); B Burke for Hickie (67 mins); D Dillon for McCullen 67 mins.

GLOUCESTER: R Teague; M Garvey, R Todd, H Paul, J Frape; B Davies, S Amor; P Johnstone, S Brotherstone, A Deacon (capt); A Brown, M Cornwell; A Eustace, J Paramore, P Buxton. Replacements: S Thomas for Todd; N Wood for Johnstone (both 70 mins); A Page for Amor (81 mins).

Referee: S McDowell (IRFU).