Three-Try Leinster Keep Pressure On League Leaders

Isa Nacewa, Cameron Jowitt and stand-in captain Shane Jennings all crossed the Scarlets try-line as Leinster maintained their Magners League title defence with a morale-boosting win on their first visit to Parc y Scarlets.

Defending champions Leinster briefly went back to the top of the Magners League courtesy of this measured win over the Scarlets, who were losing at their new home for the first time in six matches.

Although they mounted an impressive second half fightback – closing the gap to 23-17 – the Scarlets’ title hopes took a dent as a try from stand-in captain Shane Jennings and penalty from top scorer Felipe Contepomi secured the league points for the visitors.

Both sides were missing a number of RBS 6 Nations players but they still took to the pitch with an impressive array of talent on show.

Leinster, who included Magners League debutant Paul O’Donohoe at scrum half, were on the scoreboard by the third minute when out-half Contepomi landed a penalty.

Contepomi’s opposite number Rhys Priestland, who stood in for the Wales-tied Stephen Jones, missed his first shot at the posts and the Scarlets failed to convert the game’s first real try-scoring chance when the lightning quick Morgan Stoddart was bundled into touch by Fergus McFadden.

Fired-up Leinster moved 6-0 ahead when Contepomi punished an offside on 19 minutes and soon after the Scarlets had to replace their star centre Regan King who was taken off with a hamstring injury.

The evening continued to darken for Nigel Davies’ men as Leinster hit them for two converted tries in the space of four minutes.

The Heineken Cup quarter-finalists snuck through for two opportunist scores. First, they raced down the left for winger Isa Nacewa to profit from an excellent Cameron Jowitt offload and touch down to the left of the posts.

Contepomi converted and he also added the extras to Jowitt’s own try on 27 minutes. The big flanker had the relatively simple task of touching down after Priestland’s clearance kick had been charged down by Girvan Dempsey.

All that left the Scarlets trailing 20-0 but the Welshmen showed an improvement during the remainder of the first half, with Priestland popping a penalty through the posts.

Then his half-back partner Martin Roberts scooted by Stan Wright to score a well-taken converted try which cut the gap to 10 points.

However, Contepomi had the final say of the half when he stroked over his fifth successful kick to make it 23-10 to Leinster at the break.

Davies’ men needed a strong start to the second half and credit to them, after Priestland missed two penalty attempts, the Scarlets forwards took the initiative and began to take the game to their opponents.

Scrum half Roberts was a driving force, directing play and sniping himself and replacement Gavin Evans should have done better when scurrying forward with an overlap to make use of.

Unfortunately for the home faithful, the chance went a-begging but things went to plan for the men in red on 53 minutes when a flurry of phase-building ended with prop Deacon Manu muscling his way over the whitewash.

Priestland’s successful conversion made it a four-point game and the Scarlets were suddenly back in it.

Leinster had other ideas though, and a terrific breakaway score from openside Jennings settled the visitors back down.

The Scarlets defence was ripped apart by a lovely one-two passing movement between replacement Jonathan Sexton and Shane Horgan and Jennings had the pace to crash over on the right past full-back Stoddart.

Contepomi missed the conversion but tagged on a penalty some minutes later. The Argentinian international was sin-binned, 11 minutes from the end, for failing to roll away after he ended a powerful run from prop Phil John whom he brought to ground.

Adding to their frustrations, the Scarlets could make their numerical advantage count. The closest they came to adding to their tally was when centre Jonathan Davies reached for the left corner.

However, television match official Tony Rowlands correctly ruled the try out for a foot in touch, allowing Leinster to see out their fifth straight league win since October.

Pleased with his side’s overall display, Leinster coach Michael Cheika said: “We were starting to think we couldn’t score one (a try) again because we’d gone for a while without one, everyone was saying.

“But we knew that if we just concentrated on our mental approach and how hungry you want to be to win the game, but also to maintain the technique and the style, the shape of the team…we’d be okay.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t get the fourth try, which would have been nice because we haven’t got a lot of bonus points this year – no one seems to have – but I won’t be greedy. I’m happy to have come down here and won.”