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Leinster Leave It L-Eight!

Leinster Leave It L-Eight!

Leinster came through a poor examination of their quarter-final
credentials with a solid 48-19 win and some superb tries at a cold nosed Donnybrook and Matt Williams’ side boosted their try count wit

Leinster came through a poor examination of their quarter-final
credentials with a solid 48-19 win and some superb tries at a cold nosed Donnybrook and Matt Williams’ side boosted their try count with eight quality tries but with a performance, which erred on the complacent side in the opening
period.
Both sides traded penalties until Swansea began to dominate territorially, with the impressive Gavin Henson, favoured ahead of the watching Arwell Thomas.

The early exchanges saw Leinster guilty of handling errors and a lack
of cohesion in the forwards saw Swansea take a 6-3 lead. It was not until the 31st minute that the home side finally awoke from their slumber.
Shane Horgan, who
threatened all night from his wing berth, broke through midfield and the third phase on created space for Brian O’Driscoll to break free. He straightened up for support and drives by Emmet Byrne and Reggie Corrigan presented
Victor Costello with the chance to slide over the tryline. 10-6.

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Colin Charvis was yellow carded soon after for killing the ball and the complexion of the game changed urthermore. The eight versus seven forwards advantage was telling. The home defence was on top and Leinster ran in two
tries before half-time. Another Horgan break saw O’Meara release Keith Gleeson to the left-hand corner. And on the stroke of half-time, scrum-half O’Meara passed to Warner, who sent a beautifully timed flat pass for Victor Costello to
storm through the gaps and release the arriving Denis Hickie to score, as Gibbs closed down on the number 8. A 20-6 lead at half-time reflected well on the opportunism of the Leinster forwards.

The second period was barely alive, when a slick box kick from O’Meara fooled a sleepy Swansea defence and winger Hickie gleefully collected near the ’22 and
touched down for his second of the night. For once, the visitors were sprung into action and looked threatening in opposition territory. Henson sidestepped off his right and swivelled and jinked under the posts, under the retreating
Hickie and O’Driscoll. Penalties were exchanged for fringements at rucks, leaving the score at 28-16, Swansea still in touch.

A well worked forwards try saw Aidan McCullen cross to the left of the posts on 53 minutes. McCullen in for the injured Leo Cullen finished off great
interchanges by Shane Byrne and Victor Costello. A further try for Denis Hickie came on 59 minutes when Gareth Swales failed to follow the flight of Gavin Henson’s kick correctly and a quick swivel and dance down the touchline gave
Hickie his hat-trick and fourth in Pool action.
A Henson drop goal was Swansea’s only reprieve for the rest of the half, on 61 minutes.

Further tries for Leinster came from substitute Des Dillon and a break away from halfway by
Gordan D’Arcy on 81 minutes. The visitors did little for their
reputation and lacked conviction late on, as a second yellow card came their way, this time for Chris Wells.

A home quarter final awaits for Matt Williams’ side and whilst the
start was slow, the second half performance made it a night to remember for the 6,000 watching.