Leinster cross try-line nine times in Cardiff Blues rout

Last updated: 28th October 2012  

Leinster cross try-line nine times in Cardiff Blues rout

Jamie Heaslip: Scored two of Leinster's nine tries

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Leinster ran in nine tries to register an emphatic 59-22 victory over Cardiff Blues in the RaboDirect Pro12 on Saturday night.

The Blues had come close to upsetting Toulon on home turf a week earlier, but they had no answer to the firepower of Leinster, who ran in a point a minute during a one-sided first half.

David Kearney's break from halfway laid the platform for Richardt Strauss to cross after just four minutes, and even at that early stage all signs pointed towards a long, tough evening for Cardiff.

Jonny Sexton's conversion was quickly followed by a second Leinster try, which was scored after slick interplay between Sexton and Fergus McFadden sent Ian Madigan racing away to score. Sexton's second conversion made it 14-0, though the Blues enjoyed some respite courtesy of a Leigh Halfpenny penalty three minutes later.

The three-pointer merely delayed the inevitable, however, as Brian O'Driscoll, who left the field midway through the first half through injury, created an opportunity for the ball to be worked left for Jamie Heaslip to cross for the first of his two tries.

The hosts clinched a bonus point after only 26 minutes when Kearney crossed in the corner and a commanding 40-3 half-time lead was opened up thanks to further scores from Heaslip and Cian Healy.

It took just two second-half minutes for Leinster to add to their lead through Jordi Murphy's try, but, to their credit, the Blues rallied, and their efforts were rewarded with a try from Alex Cuthbert.

Leinster found an instant response as Madigan sent Damian Browne over, but the Blues restored a little more pride with second and third tries, first from Halfpenny, whose conversion made it 54-15, and then from Tom James, who swooped on an awkward bouncing kick to score.

But Leinster had the final say, with Fionn Carr's unconverted try rounding off a satisfying evening for the hosts.

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