{"id":21926,"date":"2021-06-12T10:48:33","date_gmt":"2021-06-12T14:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=21926"},"modified":"2021-06-13T10:50:29","modified_gmt":"2021-06-13T14:50:29","slug":"leinster-end-rainbow-cup-campaign-with-home-win-against-dragons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=21926","title":{"rendered":"Leinster End Rainbow Cup Campaign With Home Win Against Dragons"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Leinster welcomed returning fans with a comfortable victory over Dragons (INPHO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>Retiring duo Scott Fardy and Michael Bent bowed out on a winning note as Leinster closed out the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup with a 38-7 bonus-point victory over the Dragons at the RDS.<\/p>\n

With supporters making their long-awaited return to the Ballsbridge venue, tries from Jimmy O\u2019Brien, captain Garry Ringrose and Jordan Larmour had the hosts 19-7 ahead at half-time.<\/p>\n

Led by recalled Wales scrum-half Rhodri Williams, the Dragons took advantage of Ronan Kelleher\u2019s sin-binning to reply with a Sam Davies seven-pointer.<\/p>\n

Last week\u2019s defeat in Glasgow had ended Leinster\u2019s interest in the competition, but they finished with a flourish thanks to a Ryan Baird blockbuster, Larmour\u2019s second and a 65th-minute closer from Scott Penny.<\/p>\n

This was the first Leinster home game with a crowd since February of last year, as 1,200 supporters \u2013 including 100 staff from the nearby St. Vincent\u2019s University Hospital \u2013 watched on as part of the Government-sanctioned test events.<\/p>\n

The Dragons were first to threaten but Leinster opened the scoring, using clean line-out ball to flood out to the left where Hugo Keenan released O\u2019Brien to score. Ross Byrne landed the first of his four conversions.<\/p>\n

Their second try followed in the 14th minute, player-of-the-match Caelan Doris launching a high-quality long-range attack that ended with Ringrose reaching over past two defenders.<\/p>\n

Number eight Doris was again prominent before Ringrose and Byrne put Larmour in at the right corner, making it 19-0 with 20 minutes on the clock.<\/p>\n

Kelleher\u2019s yellow for a high tackle on Ross Moriarty allowed the Dragons to press. However, Doris brilliantly held up Williams who, following a Josh Lewis break, had looked destined to score.<\/p>\n

The Dragons forwards, including Brok Harris on his final appearance, soon went the direct route, paving the way for fly-half Davies to dart over from close range.<\/p>\n

Following both teams\u2019 rather listless finish to the first half, Baird burst through in the 42nd minute. He combined with Jamison Gibson-Park to outfox the Dragons rearguard and delight the home fans with a splendid two-man score.<\/p>\n

Replacement Taine Basham made his presence felt in Moriarty\u2019s absence, while a potential second try for O\u2019Brien was ruled out by a Doris knock-on.<\/p>\n

There was no denying Larmour on the hour mark, with Keenan providing the assist after a fine skip pass by Gibson-Park. Byrne\u2019s conversion from far out bounced wide of the post.<\/p>\n

Byrne converted with aplomb to supplement flanker Penny\u2019s powerful burst down the left, leaving a lopsided look to the scoreboard given Dragons\u2019 doggedness across the 80 minutes.<\/p>\n

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