Heineken Cup: Jonathan Sexton kicks 15 points as Leinster beat Scarlets

Sean Cronin of Leinster hands off off Andy Fenby

Jonathan Sexton: kicked 15 points for Leinster

Jonathan Sexton proved the difference as Leinster secured their second Heineken Cup win of the season by beating the Scarlets 20-13 in Wales.

Sexton was at the heart of the Irish province's only try and booted the other 15 points as they made the most of their penalty chances earned by a dominant forward display.

Leinster arrived at Parc y Scarlets late but it didn't seem to affect them as Sexton hit his first penalty inside two minutes to give his side a lead they would never lose.

He was at the heart of the action again in the 11th minute with a beautiful cross-kick that looped over George North's head and gave Isa Nacewa the chance to catch and touch down.

A further Sexton penalty made it 11-0 at the break and he was on target with a drop-goal just after the interval to add three more points to Leinster's advantage.

Scarlets awoke from their slumbers on 48 with a Rhys Priestland penalty and they were soon within four points when Gareth Maule broke off the back of a line-out and expertly side-stepped Brian O'Driscoll to cross the line.

Priestland converted to make it 10-14 but Scarlets offered Sexton two more chances to extend the lead and he took both with aplomb.

The home side was handed a lifeline six minutes from time when Ian Madigan was sin-binned for taking out Priestland in the air, and the Wales fly-half made no mistake with the resulting penalty to cut the gap back to seven.

But they were unable to take advantage of the extra man in the closing stages with Sexton even able to waste a further penalty attempt as Leinster added to their narrow win over Exeter last weekend.