RaboDirect PRO12: Ian Madigan helps Leinster defeat Connacht

Dan Parks: missed a penalty for the visitors in the 14th minute

Ian Madigan: scored a try and kicked two conversions and a penalty for the hosts

Tries from Ian Madigan and Jack McGrath gave Leinster a 17-0 victory over RaboDirect PRO12 rivals Connacht at the RDS.

The reigning Heineken Cup champions recorded their first triumph in four outings to make sure they would end 2012 on a high note.

Connacht had a strong wind at their backs in the opening half, but failed to register any score to reflect their dominance of territory.

Danie Poolman just miscued a grubber kick as he latched onto a cross-field delivery from Dan Parks and Leinster snatched a crucial turnover after a dangerous catch and run from Robbie Henshaw.

Parks also pulled a 14th minute penalty attempt wide and they paid the price as Leinster finally broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark.

It was left to fly-half Madigan to clinically pick off a converted try closing in on the break, profiting from his own quickly taken penalty.

The number 10 added a tricky conversion from the right and also kicked a penalty in the second half to take the home team into double figures.

They had looked set to notch a second try shortly before, only for Devin Toner to be held up over the try-line. Connacht held out though, winning a turnover from the resulting scrum.

However, McGrath, supported by Toner, thundered over to the right of the posts to make certain of the result, and only some superb defensive work from the visitors stopped Adam Byrne from adding a third try late on.

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