Leinster top after digging out Dragons win

Leinster 31 Newport Dragons 19

A match that might have fallen away from Leinster through a couple of weak moments and lack of focus was rescued; a bonus point try in injury time from Darren Hudson; a tip tackle on Issac Boss and a red card for Francisco Chapparo.

Plenty to talk about and Leinster now lead the Pro 12 table.

To top it off loosehead prop Jack McGrath put in a performance that will have greatly pleased Joe Schmidt.

Oddly mild in the RDS, the first quarter was played almost entirely in the Welsh side’s half. But Leinster were doing little more than probing, a knock on from Seán Cronin bursting through after Rhys Ruddock’s pass inside following a lineout, the closet the home side came to making early in roads on the scoreboard.

Newport then had the energy and drive to frustrate and with some well placed territorial kicking from outhalf Jason Tovey, Leinster were forced to build from inside their own half. But they were comfortably the more creative force.

Ian Madigan finally took advantage of over enthusiastic breakdown work from the Newport forwards and landed his first effort for 3-0. The Leinster scrum had been dominant from the off, McGrath, Cronin and Martin Moore looking solidly in control. McGrath’s rampaging runs the crowd pleasers on the night.

Leinster did seem to lack a natural line breaker and on that issue Luke Fitzgerald will soon be available.

“He’s very, very close,” said Leinster manager Guy Easterby. “For the sake of being sure we just wanted to give him a little more time.”

Given his injury profile that’s probably sensible thinking.

Tovey’s drop goal levelled the scores at 3-3 on 28 minutes and in fairness Newport deserved it after bashing away just inside the Leinster 22 and drawing in a high volume of tackles. Tovey had all day to kick the points.

Repeated infringements against Leinster shortly before half-time saw Newport tighthead prop Nathan Buck sent to the bin. But many of Leinster’s problems were self inflicted, usually 10 metres out from the Newport line. Cronin knocked on, Leo Cullen was pinged on the ground looking suitable wounded but finally McGrath, the strongest ball carrier in the first half, was rewarded when he barrelled over after another sweeping Leinster run.

Madigan converted as Leinster went into the break 10-3 ahead, a scoreline they would have been lukewarm about.

They were quickly staggered by a brace of Newport tries in two bruising second-half minutes. Against the run of play a chased kick by McFadden seemed secure, but Newport turned it over and quickly fed right, inside centre Ashley Smith touching down. While Leinster were still shaking their heads in disgust they were stung again.

Pushing deeper into the Newport territory the ball popped backwards out of a ruck. Welsh hooker Rhys Thomas was first to react and his pass triggered a counter attack up the right, scrumhalf Richard Rees both an instigator and the scorer of their second try.

From nowhere the visitors were leading the match 10-13 and less than six minutes later Tovey landed another penalty for 10-16. Suddenly Leinster were chasing the game.

Given the overall shape of the match though the score line was an aberration, harsh punishment for a couple of sloppy minutes work from Leinster.

Things turned around. Newport had Jevon Groves binned for a cynical tackle as Leinster rucked forward on 53 minutes and this time they struck. With Madigan opting for touch, Leinster’s platform five metres out set up a rolling maul and Newport had no answer but to foul. Italian referee Marius Mitrea didn’t hesitate to award the penalty try.

Six minutes later it was exactly the same thing, this time the dominant Leinster scrum heaving the Welsh team backwards and again the Italian referee stepped in again awarding a penalty try, which Madigan again converted for 24-16.

It was a towering finish from the home side, Boss unsteadily leaving the pitch after the tip tackle and the steaming pack demolishing a Newport team going backwards.

The bonus point secured by Darren Hudson was just reward for an occasionally patchy but dominant performance from Leinster.

Scoring sequence: 5 mins I Madigan pen 3-0; 28 mins J Tovey drop goal 3-3; 38 mins J McGrath try, Madigan con 10-3. Hakftime. 46 mins A Smith try 10-8; 48 mins R Rees try 10-13; Tovey pen 10-16; 61 mins pen try, con Madigan 17-16; 61 mins Pen try, Madigan con 17-16;67 mins pen try, con Madigan 24-16; 72 mins Tovey pen 24-19; 80 mins D Hudson try, Madigan con 31-19.

Leinster: Z Kirchner; F McFadden, B Macken, N Reid, D Fanning; I Madigan, E Reddan; J McGrath, S Cronin, M Moore, L Cullen ©, M McCarthy, R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Murphy. Replacements: I Boss for Reddan 47 mins; D Ryan for Jennings 53 mins; T Denton and J Gopperth for McCarthy and Reid 61 mins; M Bent for McGrath 68 mins; T Furlong for Moore 68 mins. A Dundon for Cronin 72 mins.

Newport: H Amos; M Pewtner, P Leach, A Smith, W Harries; J Tovey, R Rees; O Evans, R Thomas, N Buck, C Hill, R Sidoli ©, L Evans, N Cudd, N Talei.

Replacements: F Chapparo for Cudd 33 mins; W Evans for Talei 34 mins; Cudd for Chaparro 43 mins; R Wardle for Smith 53 mins; W Evans for Rees 59 mins, J Groves for Talei 59 mins; M Screech for Sidoli 59 mins; S Parry for Thomas 60 mins; A Coundly for Evans 65 mins; S Jones for Amos 72 mins.

Cards: N Buck yellow; J Groves yellow; F Chapparo red

Referee: M Mitreas (FIR)