Guinness PRO12: Leinster 50-19 Treviso
Last Updated: 07/05/16 8:56pm
Leinster secured their home semi-final in style with a 50-19 trouncing of Treviso at the RDS Arena on Saturday.
The win secured them top spot on the PRO12 table and sets up an all Ireland semi-final with Ulster.
Hooker Richardt Strauss crossed twice, his first league tries in two years, while Jonathan Sexton, Jack McGrath, Isa Nacewa, Mick Kearney, Noel Reid and Garry Ringrose all dotted down, with Nacewa adding four conversions and Sexton one.
Marco Lazzaroni, Matteo Muccignat and Enrico Bacchin scored for Treviso with Jayden Hayward adding two conversions, but Zebre's win over the Newport Gwent Dragons meant that Treviso finished bottom of the table and will not take part in the Champions Cup next year.
Leinster got off to a great start when Nacewa broke through the Treviso defence and, after some good work from Rob and Dave Kearney, Sexton went over in the corner,
Sexton failed to convert and Leinster had to wait until midway through the half for their second try when Strauss burrowed over after a catch and drive at the lineout.
Sexton once again failed to add the extras but Strauss made his third attempt easier when he nabbed his second try closer to the posts for a 17-0 lead at the break.
It seemed like only a matter of time before Leinster pocketed their bonus-point try and it came courtesy of prop McGrath who scored from close range. Sexton, who picked up a heavy knock in an off-the-ball incident with Treviso replacement Lazzaroni, had to go off so captain Nacewa slotted the extras.
Nacewa then started and finished a great move - a clever grubber kick from him was picked up by Garry Ringrose and taken up by Jordi Murphy who offloaded to Nacewa to dive over.
Mick Kearney grabbed his first Leinster try, before Lazzaroni finally got Treviso on the scoreboard, thanks to some lovely play from Hayward. Leinster were back in business minutes later when Reid showed his skills to cross for the hosts' seventh try of the day.
Muccignat and Bacchin went on to score for the visitors in the final minutes but Leinster had the final say as Ringrose went over in the final seconds for Leinster's eighth try.
