{"id":19044,"date":"2021-01-08T17:42:05","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T21:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=19044"},"modified":"2021-01-10T10:43:57","modified_gmt":"2021-01-10T14:43:57","slug":"second-half-fightback-sees-leinster-defeat-ulster-at-the-rds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=19044","title":{"rendered":"Second-Half Fightback Sees Leinster Defeat Ulster At The RDS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Leinster’s Jordan Larmour and Ethan McIlroy of Ulster (INPHO\/Laszlo Geczo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>Leinster came good in the second half to claim a crucial 24-12 Guinness PRO14 bonus-point win over previously-unbeaten Ulster at the RDS.<\/p>\n

Tries from Sean Cronin and Robbie Henshaw provided a big momentum shift just after the break as Leo Cullen\u2019s men, who have a game in hand on the Conference A leaders, closed the gap at the summit to five points.<\/p>\n

With Ulster full of confidence following 10 straight victories, John Cooney kicked three penalties \u2013 two during Marcell Coetzee\u2019s sin-binning \u2013 to establish a 9-5 half-time lead.<\/p>\n

However, those scores from Cronin and Henshaw \u2013 adding to Dave Kearney\u2019s earlier effort \u2013 saw Leinster put last week\u2019s surprise defeat to Connacht behind them. James Tracy\u2019s clinching 73rd-minute try came soon after Cooney\u2019s fourth penalty of the night.<\/p>\n

Ulster dominated possession early on but were unable to force a score. Their aggression at the breakdown and Henshaw\u2019s thumping tackle on a kick-receiving Ethan McIlroy summed up the intensity on show.<\/p>\n

The visitors deservedly edged ahead on the quarter-hour mark, Cooney rifling over a kick to punish some \u2018escorting\u2019 by James Ryan.<\/p>\n

Following a miscued penalty attempt by Johnny Sexton, better continuity from Leinster \u2013 aided by a high-tackle penalty against Coetzee \u2013 had them in prime position to break the try deadlock.<\/p>\n

Kearney finished expertly from a lovely long pass by Jamison Gibson-Park, the experienced winger brilliantly getting the ball down ahead of the covering Matt Faddes and Billy Burns.<\/p>\n

Sexton again missed the target, this time from the touchline, and Ulster did really well to survive Coetzee\u2019s sin-binning for a second high tackle.<\/p>\n

Leinster were thwarted by some very good covering by McIlroy and Cooney, along with James Hume\u2019s turnover penalty.<\/p>\n

Indeed, scrum-half Cooney punished infringements by Ireland regulars Ryan and Andrew Porter to put four points between the sides. In between, the impressive Jordi Murphy won a hard-earned penalty in defense.<\/p>\n

However, Leinster regained their usual rhythm by winning a succession of penalties near the right corner. Hooker Cronin was driven over from a five-meter lineout, with the added boost of a crisply-struck conversion from Sexton.<\/p>\n

As Ulster came under further pressure, the fit-again Jordan Larmour was held up by Hume following some deft footwork by Hugo Keenan, whose all-action display earned him the player-of-the-match award.<\/p>\n

Much quicker ball, with Caelan Doris prominent in the carry, led to Henshaw powering his way over in the 52nd minute having initially broken a tackle from Cooney. Sexton missed the conversion at 17-9.<\/p>\n

Another Cooney strike had Ulster back in bonus point territory, but Tracy\u2019s sharply-taken maul try, coupled with Ross Byrne\u2019s interception in injury-time, ensured a 12-point winning margin for Leinster.<\/p>\n

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