Guinness PRO12: Leinster into top four with win over Ospreys
Last Updated: 30/11/14 8:00pm
Leinster battled their way to an 18-12 win over Ospreys in their PRO12 clash in Dublin.
The victory lifted the three-time European champions into the top four and was built on the boots of Ian Madigan and Jimmy Gopperth.
The Ospreys, without seven players on international duty, were unlucky not to get something from this game as they fell to their second defeat of the season – the first against Ulster eight days ago.
The first half failed to catch fire with both sides guilty of kicking possession away aimlessly. Three penalties apiece from Ian Madigan and Sam Davies produced a half-time scoreline of 9-9.
Gopperth and Davies swapped kicks in the third quarter, before the Leinster forwards seized control in the closing stages and Gopperth's boot gave them a timely boost ahead of their European Champions Cup double-header against Harlequins.
The Ospreys failed to capitalise on a jinking run from Hanno Dirksen but they continued to probe with ball in hand just outside the Leinster 22 and Davies' second penalty was their reward.
Dominic Ryan did well when coming through the middle to foil a dangerous Ospreys maul - but further pressure yielded a 37th minute penalty, from which Davies equalised.
Leinster had a let-off on the resumption as Natoga's try was ruled out for a forward pass from scrum-half Martin Roberts, who created the opening off the side of a maul.
No 8 and man of the match Jack Conan got the hosts on the front foot with a bulldozing run into the 22, however possession was lost after Kearney wriggled up close to the posts.
Gordon D'Arcy, who replaced Madigan at centre, was tackled without the ball and Leinster went back in front thanks to Gopperth's first penalty on the night.
As the pace quickened, Sam Lewis threatened on the right wing and loose kicking from Zane Kirchner and Darragh Fanning invited the Ospreys forward. Davies duly tied things up with his fourth place-kick on the hour mark.
The Ospreys' defensive organisation was first class as they smothered Leinster's attempts to build from halfway - and they also forced a knock-on from Ryan following Gopperth's pacy break from deep.
Crucially, Gopperth managed to edge Leinster ahead in the 72nd minute, splitting the posts after a Ben Marshall lineout steal.
With Conan and replacements Marshall and Rhys Ruddock to the fore, the home pack dominated the final few minutes and Gopperth sealed the result following a well-won scrum penalty in the 22.
