Derby delight for Leinster

Leinster made it 10 Magners League wins in a row at the RDS with a hard-fought 15-3 triumph over Irish rivals Ulster on Boxing Day.

Tries from Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip helped the reigning Heineken Cup champions see off their under-strength opponents.

The result lifts Michael Cheika's side back to the top of the table having been knocked off the summit earlier in the day by the Ospreys' win in Llanelli.

Without Paddy Wallace, Tom Court and Stephen Ferris, who were all rested as part of the IRFU Player Management Programme, Ulster had it all to do if they were to register a first win at the home of their rivals in 10 years.

Pollock out

Their cause was hampered even further by the late loss of David Pollock, meaning Willie Faloon came in to start at openside flanker.

Fly-half Shaun Berne booted Leinster ahead with a penalty after his side had earlier spurned the chance to go for the posts, kicking for territory instead.

Ulster could have levelled matters but Niall O'Connor missed his opportunity and shortly after his team were down to 14 men with the sin-binning of Thomas Anderson, albeit somewhat harshly for going over the top at a ruck.

They somehow came through the 10-minute period unscathed, though, and when O'Connor was given a second shot at the posts, he made no mistake.

However Leinster seized control of the contest five minutes before the break when Ireland full-back Kearney raced in under the posts.

Berne's conversion made it 10-3 at the interval and the lead was extended even further just five minutes into the second half.

Provider

Having scored the first Kearney was the provider this time, gathering his own up-and-under before setting flanker Heaslip to the line with a well-timed pass.

The early try, which went unconverted, raised the hopes of the home fans that their side might cut loose with such a comfortable cushion.

Instead it was Ulster who looked the more dangerous in the closing half-hour, and a losing bonus point would have been picked up had they been more clinical in attack.

Their best chance for further points came in the closing stages when Simon Danielli just failed to hang on to a pass from replacement Jonny Shiels with the line at his mercy.