Leinster pull off Italian job
Leinster extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches with a 30-20 triumph over Treviso in Italy.
Last Updated: 26/11/11 6:23pm
Leinster extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches with a hard-fought 30-20 triumph over Treviso in Italy.
Tries from Leo Auva'a, Fionn Carr and Eoin O'Malley helped the reigning Heineken Cup champions come out on top at Stadio di Monigo.
However they did not have things all their own way in the RaboDirect PRO12 match, with the hosts crossing themselves through replacement Manoa Vosawai.
Tobias Botes kicked the rest of Treviso's points, though the scrum-half did miss a late penalty that would have secured his team a losing bonus point.
Dream start
The visitors got off to a dream start when number eight Auva'a crossed in the very first minute.
They grabbed a second try soon after when former Connacht wing Carr raced over and with McFadden landing both conversions, Leinster had a healthy lead inside the opening eight minutes.
Botes did keep Treviso in contention though, following up a fourth-minute penalty with two more successful kicks in the first quarter to cut the gap to five points.
McFadden's first penalty on 23 minutes made it 17-9 to Leinster, but Botes kept Treviso within a converted try with another three points, and that's how it remained until the interval.
The two kickers exchanged efforts at the start of the second period before the Italians were level on 51 minutes when Vosawi touched down.
Botes was unable to add the extras and give Treviso the lead, and within four minutes they found themselves behind again.
A McFadden penalty put Leinster in front and with little over 15 minutes left O'Malley put the game beyond the hosts when he crashed over from close range.
McFadden duly kicked the conversion to make it 30-20 and although flanker Shane Jennings was sent to the sin bin late on, Leinster held on to seal the win.
