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Leinster claim 11th straight win as Scott Penny drops Edinburgh
By PA at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
A Scott Penny hat-trick proved decisive as Leinster pulled away late to secure a 28–20 United Rugby Championship bonus-point victory over Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium.
For long periods, this was anything but routine for Leo Cullen’s side. For 70 odd minutes Edinburgh looked capable of turning pressure into a statement away result. Leinster, fielding a youthful side and missing their Ireland internationals, struggled to impose themselves early and were forced to dig deep.
The home side did strike first on 13 minutes when Max Deegan powered over from close range after sustained pressure, Charlie Tector converting.
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Edinburgh responded impressively. Duhan van der Merwe showed his pace and finishing instincts with a 50-metre score following an Edinburgh blindside break from the base of the scrum, Ben Vellacott providing the assist, though Ross Thompson pushed the conversion wide.
Thompson made amends soon after by landing a 23rd-minute penalty and Edinburgh continued to ask questions, not least at the set-piece. Leinster’s frontrow – which included relative newcomers Jerry Cahir and Andrew Sparrow – were given a baptism of fire against an experienced Edinburgh unit that included Bok loosehead Boan Venter and former England tighthead Paul Hill.
The Scots’ pressure told just before the break when Malelili Satala-Navlivou rounded Deegan to finish sharply in the left corner following a flowing attack down the flank, with Thompson adding the extras to send the visitors into the sheds with a deserved 17–7 lead.
Leinster took their thumb out after half-time. The redoubtable Penny got his first on 44 minutes, dotting down from close range after Brian Deeny’s break opened the defence, Tector converting.
The momentum had shifted. Edinburgh battled gamely, but Leinster’s physicality gradually told.
Penny struck again on 68 minutes, once more from short range, before completing his hat-trick six minutes later with a near-identical finish to seal the bonus point. Tector added the conversions on each occasion.
Edinburgh grabbed a late consolation when replacement scrum-half Charlie Shiel crossed in the closing moments, but Cammy Scott missed the conversion.
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