Leinster 45-9 Scarlets: Hosts turn up second-half heat on Scarlets
Last Updated: 04/03/17 10:29pm
Leinster's extended their run of successive bonus point victories in the Guiness PRO12 to five as they eased back to the top with a crushing 45-9 win over Scarlets.
The Leinstermen, who ran in seven tries, have now won their last 22 home games in the PRO12, since drawing 34-34 with Glasgow Warriors almost two years ago.
Scrum-half Luke McGrath scurried over for two first-half tries but the visitors were only 12-9 down at the break, Dan Jones' three penalties keeping them right in the contest.
But the home side broke loose in the second half, running in five tries without response, Rhys Ruddock crashing over and Joey Carbery scoring twice.
Replacement prop Ed Byrne also crossed - his first try for the Irish province after two years out with serious knee
problems.
The shell-shocked Scarlets - and DTH van der Merwe in particular - were denied a consolation try before Jamison Gibson-Park stepped off the bench to supply the coup de grace with the last move of the match.
The result takes Leo Cullen's men two points clear of the Ospreys, who had been top for 24 hours following Friday's victory in Edinburgh.
