Leinster moved up the Magners League table on Friday night after they scored a bonus point win over neighbours Connacht – with their returning Irish test stars to the fore in the four tries to one performance.

A loose Mark McHugh kick allowed second row Trevor Hogan to charge down and race over in the first minute of the game however missed kicks by fly half Felipe Contepomi allowed Connacht to stay in the game throughout the first half with the score 13-7 at the break.
A Darren Yapp try came just before the break after a second by the visitors – when Brian O’Driscoll had shown a spark of magic with a flicked pass behind his back to find Jamie Heaslip – who fed Guy Easterby for the touchdown.

Mark McHugh kicked two penalties for the hosts against one by Contepomi, but when Malcolm O’Kelly was sin binned after an hour Connacht were able to capitalise with a further McHugh kick drawing them level – but there were unable to press their advantage with first a Gordon D’Arcy drop goal and then late tries by Shane Horgan and Dennis Hickie securing the bonus point win for Leinster.