Rugby - Celtic League: Leinster 13 Edinburgh 6: It's hard to convey just how much a better side Leinster were in this Magners Celtic League match last night.
It certainly wasn't reflected on the scoreboard and that will grate with coach Michael Cheika. The home side conjured enough line breaks to win three matches but lacked the precision to finish clinically.
As a result Edinburgh lolled on the periphery of the contest, encouraged by their opponents' lack of ruthlessness and hoping to grab a few scraps.
The Scots didn't deserve anything, not even the bonus point they eked out.
Leinster will be content with the victory against a visiting side that on paper looked closer to full strength but on the pitch produced a curiously anaemic performance. The Leinster pack worked hard while in fullback Rob Kearney, they had the best back on pitch.
Jamie Heaslip, a deserved man of the match, was to adopt a prominent role in the opening throes of the contest. His first cameo was to stymie a potentially definitive breach in Leinster's defensive line. The number eight did extremely well to cover Edinburgh wing Simon Webster's clever chip.
Unfortunately due to a lack of support Heaslip was forced to cling to the ball a little too long for referee Nigel Owen's liking and from the resultant penalty, Edinburgh captain Duncan Hodge gave the visitors the lead. It was an advantage that barely lasted 60 seconds as Stephen Keogh gathered the re-start, Ronan McCormack charged into the Edinburgh 22 and the Scots coughed up a penalty two rucks later.
Felipe Contepomi posted the 15 metre penalty. After seven minutes Heaslip popped up for a second time, this time taking the outhalf's short pass to make serious yardage and Edinburgh transgressed in the shadow of their own posts. Contepomi made it 6-3.
Leinster's attitude to the style of game they wanted to play was evident from the outset with Contepomi electing to run. He found willing accolytes in those inside and outside him, with Niall Ronan and Kearney especially prominent.
The home side established a bridgehead inside the Edinburgh 22 but increased their lead in rather bizare circumstances.
Contepomi's intended chip over the Edinburgh defence skewed into visiting centre Peter Jorgensen's hands and he set off for the other end of the pitch. Despite ceding 65 metres, Leinster regrouped in their 22, turned over possession and Gary Brown did brilliantly to nail Alistair Warnock following a long clearance kick.
Having won possession again Leinster moved the ball wide with Contepomi eventually sending Heaslip stolling over for an opportunist try.
The outhalf added the conversion but the margin on the scoreboard should have been increased further but the home side spurned a couple of gilt edged opportunities.
Leinster started the second half as they had the first, keeping the ball in hand and while their dominance in terms of field position continued they lacked the precision to eke out further scores.
The longer the home side went without scoring the greater was the suggestion the Scots might just reverse into the contest. Sure enough, Leinster's growing frustration was manifest in the concession of penalties and some sloppy turnovers. Hodge kicked a straightforward penalty to narrow the gap to 13-6.
Leinster ended up pinned in their own 22, hanging on for dear life in a game in which they should have been coasting, a four try bonus point safely tucked away in their back pocket.
Scoring sequence. 2 mins: Hodge penalty, 0-3; 3 mins: Contepomi penalty, 3-3; 7 mins: Contepomi penalty, 6-3; 16 mins: Heaslip try, Contepomi conversion, 13-3. Half-time: 13-3. 75 mins: Hodge penalty, 13-6.
LEINSTER: R Kearney; G Brown, K Lewis, C Warner, M Berne; F Contepomi (capt), C Whitaker; R McCormack, B Jackman, W Green; T Hogan, D Toner; S Keogh, N Ronan, J Heaslip. Replacements: S Wright for McCormack 7 mins; G Easterby for Whitaker 59 mins; B Blaney for Jackman 61 mins; O Finegan for Hogan 73 mins.
EDINBURGH: A Warnock; M Dey, P Jorgensen, B Cairns, S Webster; D Hodge (capt), J Senio; A Dickinson, A Kelly, G Cross; M Mustchin, C Bentley; A Strokosch, R Rennie, A Hogg. Replacements: A Jacobsen for Dickinson 31 mins; L Lopez Fleming for Webster 32 mins; D Young for G Cross h-time; G Laidlaw for Lopez Fleming 63-69 mins and for Senio 69 mins; S lawrie for Kelly 73 mins.
Referee: N Owens(Wales).
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