Leinster young guns bag heavy but messy win over Zebre

Josh Kenny and Alex Soroka scored first-half doubles as Leinster notched their second United Rugby Championship win of the season by beating Zebre 50-26 at the Aviva Stadium.

Leinster went over for eight tries to Zebre’s four, with home fly-half Harry Byrne and Giacomo Da Re landing five and three conversions respectively.

Leinster raced into an early 12-0 lead, with Hugo McLaughlin’s break setting up Kenny inside the opening minute, and Alex Soroka touched down from close range before Zebre responded through Mirko Belloni, who won the race on to Thomas Dominguez’s kick ahead.

Within a minute Soroka burst through a gap for his second try and Zebre hit back again through Dominguez’s fine solo effort.

Leinster were rewarded for sustained pressure as Kenny went over for his second score and a see-saw first-half battle continued as Giovanni Quattrini powered over from a maul to reduce the deficit to 26-21 at the break.

Jerry Cahir barged over for a debut try soon after the restart, while further tries from Byrne and South Africa lock RG Snyman extended the home side’s lead to 45-21.

Marco Zanon powered over from the back of a ruck for Zebre’s fourth try before Leinster’s replacement back row Will Connors’ 77th-minute touchdown completed the scoring.