Sloppy Leinster hang on

Celtic League/Leinster - 22 Glasgow - 16: It was a frustrating evening for Leinster, ultimately a fractured performance that nearly cost them the victory. A ludicrously high error rate meant they were often their own worst enemies and provided Glasgow with enough largesse to keep the visitors in the match.

For long periods it mimicked their recent defeat to Llanelli, where a lack of assurance in their opponent's 22 meant they spurned far too many chances.

Leinster's preparations were disrupted slightly prior to the kick-off when prop Emmett Byrne was summoned to the Ireland squad after Marcus Horan was taken ill. John Lyne was promoted from the replacements with Peter Coyle receiving a late call to the bench.

It didn't affect the scrum, which was solid, which could not be said for the lineout. Fortunately for the home side Glasgow's set piece was no more assured.

Leinster got the ideal start, scoring inside three minutes with a try from David Holwell when the outhalf squeezed between defenders on an eight metre run and then added the straight forward conversion.

Glasgow could have responded almost immediately but Calvin Howarth undid his fine break by flinging out a poor pass with a try beckoning.

The home side continued to play the more penetrative rugby, but the visitors proved that touchline to touchline patterns don't suffice unless complemented by forward momentum. Leinster's pack, especially Des Dillon, Leo Cullen and David Blaney, were breaking the first line of defence, but a lack of patience and as a result precision spawned too many errors, often within metres of the Glasgow line.

The Scottish side did threaten on the rare occasions when they managed to guarantee quick ruck ball, but in Leinster right wing Kieran Lewis they were pitted against a player who offered a master class in intelligent defence.

Lewis invariably chose the most opportune moment to drill the man, even when faced with more than one attacker.

Dillon, Blaney and Cullen made the hard yards on 12 minutes and livewire full back Dave Hewitt demonstrated good hands to send Shane Jennings in at the corner, who barged through a couple of lacklustre tackles.

Glasgow did respond with a penalty from Howarth, but Holwell landed a similar strike to nudge the home side into a 15-3 interval lead.

Leinster's lineout continued to malfunction and this provided the visitors with turnover ball that they should never have been allowed. Howarth kicked a second penalty, and Leinster's carelessness in possession allowed the visitors two many soft turnovers.

Another turnover from the home side could have proved calamitous on 65 minutes but replacement scrumhalf Brian O'Riordan did well to catch David Millard from behind after the Glasgow replacement wing raced clear.

Glasgow's increasing dominance of both the ball and territory deservedly led to a score, but the try had its origins in another Leinster turnover. Driving a lineout taken by Cullen inside the Glasgow half, they contrived to lose possession in the maul and, following Sam Pinder's break, the ball was worked to the other wing for Colin Shaw to score. Howarth kicked a superb touchline conversion to peg the home side's lead back to 15-13.

The home side managed to squander two further clear-cut opportunities before the excellent Ben Gissing forced his way over from about a yard after a quick tap penalty.

A huge roar of relief greeted Holwell's excellent touchline conversion.

Symptomatic of Leinster's night was the concession of another penalty to Howarth that guaranteed the visitors a deserved bonus point.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 3 mins: Holwell try, Holwell conversion, 7-0; 12: Jennings try, 12-0; 15: Howarth penalty, 12-3; 26: Holwell penalty, 15-3. Half-time: 15-3. 54: Howarth penalty, 15-6; 72: Shaw try, Howarth conversion, 15-13; 76: Gissing try, Holwell, conversion, 22-13; 81: Howarth penalty, 22-16.

LEINSTER: D Hewitt; K Lewis, C Warner, D Quinlan, G Brown; D Holwell, B O'Meara; J Lyne, D Blaney, R Nebbett; L Cullen (capt), B Gissing; C Potts, D Dillon, S Jennings. Replacements: G Hickie for Blaney (27-41 mins); N Ronan for Jennings (54 mins); A McCullen for Potts (60 mins); B O'Riordan for O'Meara (62 mins); P Coyle for Lyne (73 mins).

GLASGOW: C Shaw; R Kerr, A Craig, G Maclure, K Logan (capt); C Howarth, G Beveridge; K Tkachuk, S Lawson, A Kelly; A Hall, D Turner; C Mather, J Beattie, A Wilson. Replacements: S Pinder for Beveridge (48 mins); D Millard for Maclure (64 mins); S Swindall for Wilson (67 mins); F Thompson for Lawson (75 mins); C Gregor for Pinder (82 mins).

Referee: N Ballard (Wales).