United Rugby Championship
Dragons (7) 10
Tries: Screech Cons: De Beer Pen: O’Brien
Leinster (5) 24
Tries: Soroka, Kenny 2, Snyman Cons: H Byrne 2
Champions Leinster averted an enormous United Rugby Championship upset by edging previous Dragons 24-10 at Rodney Parade.
Commercial
The Irish province trailed 7-5 after an indisciplined first half however ultimately ran out four-try winners in Newport.
They dominated the second half however couldn’t shake off a spirited Dragons, who pushed to stage the scores within the closing phases.
Leinster survived and returning South Africa lock RG Snyman – star of the showcase the bench – made it a five-point haul within the 78th minute by including to blind-side flanker Alex Soroka’s opener and wing Joshua Kenny’s double.
However it was a desperately unconvincing return to league motion for Leinster forward of the Champions Cup.
Austin makes Dragons debut after Sale transfer
Dragons, in the meantime, are but to win within the URC because the opening weekend of final season and the lack of 5 Wales gamers meant they have been large underdogs.
Commercial
Check calls ups to face South Africa and accidents meant Dragons’ squad was threadbare and with hookers Elliot Dee, James Benjamin and Sam Scarfe injured, they have been compelled to signal 21-year-old Sale Sharks hooker Will Austin on a short-term deal this week.
The primary half swung from Leinster dominance, once they paid the worth for failing to construct on Soroka’s highly effective end within the fourth minute, to Dragons being camped within the Irish province’s 22.
The wasteful guests’ indiscipline led to a yellow card for lock Diarmuid Mangan for offside after 28 minutes.
Dragons turned down pictures at purpose and acquired their reward when lock Matthew Screech inched over from shut vary within the thirty first minute, fly-half Tinus De Beer changing for a 7-5 lead.
Commercial
Leinster have been lowered to 13 males with 4 minutes of the half left when open-side flanker Scott Penny was proven yellow for one more offside.
The champions racked up a exceptional 12 penalties within the first half to offer Dragons hope of an enormous upset.
Nevertheless, Leinster made mild of their numerical drawback to go in entrance within the forty fourth minute when sharp dealing with put wing Kenny over.
Fly-half Harry Byrne transformed from the proper touchline just for Angus O’Brien to reply with a penalty to make lower the result in 12-10.
Leinster have been twice held up over the road and had one other effort chalked off by the TMO earlier than Kenny completed from an outrageous offload after which basketball cross in the identical transfer by Springbok Snyman.
Commercial
It was one-way site visitors however Dragons confirmed spirit to maintain the rating at 17-10.
They pushed for a leveller within the closing phases solely to knock on 5 metres out, with Penny surviving a TMO inspection of a excessive shot on lock Levi Douglas.
Leinster escaped and Synman gathered the unfastened ball from an aerial bomb to race over from 25 metres to safe the spoils.
How they lined up
Dragons: O’Brien (capt); C Evans, Richards, Owen, Anderson; De Beer, R Williams; Kelleher-Griffiths, Burrows, Hunt, S Davies, Screech, Woodman, Younger, Martin.
Replacements: Austin, W Jones, James, Douglas, Lewis-Hughes, Armstrong, Westwood, E Rosser.
Commercial
Leinster: J O’Brien; Kenny, Cooney, Frawley, Larmour; H Byrne, Gunne; Boyle, G McCarthy, Clarkson, Deeny, Mangan, Soroka, Penny, Deegan (capt).
Replacements: McKee, Cahir, Slimani, Snyman, Ericson, L McGrath, Tector, Moloney.
Sin bin – Mangan (28), Penny (36)
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant: Craig Evans (Wales) and Lucas Yendle (Wales)
TMO: Chris Allison (South Africa)
