Guinness PRO12: Leinster win in Cardiff
Last Updated: 11/01/15 7:17pm
Leinster had to work hard to record a 22-13 win over 14-man Cardiff Blues on Saturday.
The returning Jimmy Gopperth ensured Leinster continued their winning start to 2015 as they battled back from a half-time deficit at Cardiff Arms Park.
Noel Reid, Luke McGrath, Gopperth and Tadhg Furlong all touched down for the defending PRO12 champions in the bonus-point win.
Manoa Vosawai got the Blues' only try in the first half and Gareth Anscombe kicked eight points as they took an eight-point lead with them into the break.
Seeing red
However it was Jarrad Hoeta’s red card just before the break that was the turning point of this game – made worse when Vosawai was sin-binned middle through the second half – as Cardiff eventually ran out of steam and out of defenders.
Leinster got off to the best possible start after Gopperth found some space around the fringes and burst through before finding Reid for an easy score on two minutes.
Two penalties from Anscombe then gave the home side a 6-5 lead before they went further ahead with a try of their own. They built on some impressive phases to attack Leinster’s line only for Jack Conan to knock the ball on. However they were soon back on attack and after some good work from the forwards they were awarded a try by the TMO. Anscombe added the extras for 13-5 with 12 minutes left in the half. Cardiff managed to hold on and went in to the break with an eight-point lead.
Cardiff started the second half on fire and it looked for a time that they were the side with the extra man. However they found themselves down to 13 men when Vosawai was sent to the sin bin for using his knee.
The deficit finally told as Leinster turned the ball over in Cardiff’s 22 and Luke McGrath got the ball quickly to Gopperth who converted his own try. McGrath then scored himself after a scintillating break from the scrum almost set Conan up for the try. However the No 8, seeing that he was going to be short, recycled the ball allowing McGrath to go over.
Cardiff’s decision to attack from their own line almost paid off as Alex Cuthbert raced down the flank but he was brought down by Rob Kearney with an excellent tackle.
Leinster then got their bonus point try after some superb work from Dave Kearney down the wing to keep the ball in play resulted in Furlong powering over.
