Leinster extended their winning run in the Guinness PRO12 to seven games but were made to work extremely hard for a 22-21 victory over Cardiff Blues. The Irish province have now won their last 13 games against the Blues in all competitions with Ross Molony’s try proving to be the crucial try at the RDS Arena. Twice Leinster took the lead with tries from Dan Leavy and Luke McGrath but those times they were pegged back by Tomos Williams’ completing Blues counter-attacks. Sion Bennett put the visitors ahead for the first time with a third counter-attacking score but Molony’s try took Leinster back in front with the Blues taking home a losing bonus point. A clever grubber kick from centre Noel Reid unlocked the Cardiff Blues defence after just four minutes as Leavy, who came off the bench for Ireland last weekend, collected and dotted down. Ross Byrne added the extras successfully from the touchline to put the league leaders 7-0 up. The visitors brought themselves level barely ten minutes later though as Blaine Scully pounced on a Leinster knock-on before feeding Rey Lee-Lo who set scrum-half Williams away to score. Steve Shingler made no mistake with the conversion and the scores were level. McGrath restored the home side’s advantange on the half hour when the scrum-half sniped around the corner of a ruck from close range for his seventh Guinness PRO12 try of the season. Ross Byrne was once again on target from the tee to make it 14-7. Reid thought he had Leinster’s third try of the afternoon early in the second half when he ran clear but referee George Clancy brought play back after Joey Carbery had a foot in touch. And barely a minute later, Gareth Anscombe used his quick feet to get out of trouble before launching a devastating counter attack through Kristian Dacey. The hooker was deep inside his own half but released Williams for his second try and, with Shingler’s conversion, pulled the scores level. Leinster regained the lead with 54 minutes gone with a penalty from Ross Byrne’s boot as the Blues were caught offside. But the visitors had their third try, again from the counter attack, as Lee-Lo took full advantage of Leinster coughing up possession before finding Scully who fed Bennett. The replacement ran in from halfway with his first touch of the game and Shingler added the extras as the Blues led 21-17 with 20 minutes left to play. The league leaders restored their lead though when Molony was part of a driving maul that forced its way over the line but Byrne’s conversion was wide and the lead was a single point but it was enough. Guinness PRO12 Final 2017, 27th May, Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Ticket Information: Fans can still avail of an exclusive number of €35 tickets. Book via www.ticketmaster.ie. Further information: www.pro12rugby.com/final
