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Rieko Ioane scores first Leinster try in comeback while Cardiff suffer shock

By PA
Rieko Ioane of Leinster, second from left, celebrates with teammates, from left, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley and James Lowe after scoring their side's first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Ulster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Leinster staged a second-half fightback to claim a bonus-point 24-20 victory over Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

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The visitors had the better of the opening half and led 17-7 at the break but Leinster hit back to close to within one point of their opponents in the table.

Wing Werner Kok was the key man for Ulster early on, crossing for his first try in the 14th minute and then scoring another 20 minutes later after an interception.

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Rieko Ioane had got Leinster on the board with a try in between but Tom Stewart added a third for Ulster two minutes before half-time.

The fightback began with a try for Josh Kenny in the 54th minute and, despite a yellow card for lock James Ryan, James Lowe crossed for Leinster’s third try.

Match Summary

0
Penalty Goals
1
4
Tries
3
2
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
152
Carries
85
7
Line Breaks
3
15
Turnovers Lost
18
5
Turnovers Won
5

Nathan Doak’s penalty meant Ulster still led by three points but David McCann was shown a yellow card in the 71st minute for a deliberate knock-on and Leinster took advantage, with Dan Sheehan grabbing the winning try.

SCARLETS PROFIT FROM GARETH DAVIES DOUBLE

Gareth Davies scored two tries to earn Scarlets a 21-17 victory over Cardiff.

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Scarlets had three players sin-binned but held on to claim only their second league victory this season.

Eddie James crossed to give Scarlets the lead in the 23rd minute, with Joe Hawkins adding the conversion.

But Cardiff soon hit back to level through a try from Mason Grady after both Josh Macleod and Davies had been shown yellow cards.

Callum Sheedy nudged Cardiff ahead with a penalty just before the break but Davies crossed twice either side of a second try for the home side for Josh Adams.

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Johnny Williams became the third Scarlets player to be yellow-carded with an hour gone but high-flying Cardiff could not find a response.

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Comments

4 Comments
A
Archibald 45 days ago

Did Johnny Sextoy congratulate Ioane on his maiden try?

E
Eric Elwood 45 days ago

I was at the Leinster-Ulster match.

I was at the Havelock Square end very close to where the Leinster guys were warming up. Prendergast did not put a kick wrong in the warm up. During the match he hardly got a kick right. He was an consistently outstanding kicker underage. Confidence is gone. When the scoreline went 17-7, I started to wonder if it would turn into a match where one team dominated possession but the other scores from every turnover. I actually felt if Ulster won that match by more than a score that Leo Cullen was gone.


In the EPRC semi final against Northampton, an ascendent Leinster had got the score back to 3 points against a tiring opponent. Leinster turned down a 3 point kick to take it to extra team where they would have had the ammo and legs to get the job done. No, another kick to the corner and they lost by 3.


Yesterday evening they had an easy kick to go 10-5 up and start applying scoreboard pressure while Ulster were defending well. No, a kick for the corner and within 2 mins they were under their posts and 12-7 down. Leinster now tried to force it under a little scoreboard pressure and Stewart at 2 showed why he is an international prospect (in open play at least) by dragging himself and Lowe 20m to score.


Now Leinster’s game plan was obvious. It was going to be a close match. Keep it close and then pull away when the big players come on. Surely taking the 3 points at that point was sticking to the plan? The reason they didnt is that even after Northampton Cullen is still allowing players to make decisions completely on the fly in the moment.

And the same errors are still being made.


The match wasn’t won by bringing the experienced guys on: it was bringing them on AND Harry Byrne. Byrne would have the wit and indeed authority to overrule Conan on that 3 point error.


He played and kicked Leinster into that win inspite of Ryan’s idiotic risky clearout resulting in a yellow and almost costing his team the match. Leinster about to score when the TMO calls the ref back. Ryan needs to be dropped.


McCarthy boys were savage when they came on. Paddy actually easily making more post contact yards as far as I could see.

J
JJ 46 days ago

That is 5 years running that the Scarlets have won away at Cardiff Arms Park. Why is it a shock?

H
Hammer Head 46 days ago

I believe the shock was to do with Ioane scoring a try

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