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ULSTER 18 - 24 LEINSTER

Royal Dublin Society - Saturday 25 May
KO: 16:45 HT: 6-16 Att: tbc

HERE’S HOW IT HAPPENED MINUTE BY MINUTE...

Ulster v Leinster Aviva Prem not only final today. Will be one huge clash kicking off soon at Dublin's RDS stadium
Ulster v Leinster Both sides have won 18 of their 23 games & this will be a tough battle for all
Ulster 0-0 Leinster 0mins The 2013 is off as Paddy Jackson KO
Ulster 0-0 Leinster 0mins Ulster pinged for not rolling away near H/W> Jonathan Sexton kicks for touch
Ulster 0-0 Leinster 1mins Ulster pinged for going in at side. Sexton confident as he goes for corner not posts
Ulster 0-0 Leinster 3mins Great lineout from the men in blue & they appear to be over
Ulster 0-7 Leinster 3mins Shane Jennings awarded the try and Sexton beautifully converts
Ulster 0-7 Leinster 5mins Ulster not having a great start as they are pinged again, this time for being offside
Ulster 0-7 Leinster 5mins Another huge boot into touch from Sexton gets the pumped up crowd cheering louder
Ulster 0-7 Leinster 6mins Ulster on self destruct as they concede penalty no. 4 & Sexton is going for the posts
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 6mins Flags go up & Sexton has increased Leinster's early lead
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 9mins Final is hotting up as Ulster hammer their way into Leinster's 22 and almost get a try
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 10mins Leinster defend well & Ulster are handed a 5m scrum. 2nd scrum goes down> Ulster pen
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 10mins Ulster go for the scrum option again & Ulster fans are now the ones cheering
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 12mins Huge push & we go for the 4th scrum in a row. Another massive push but Leinster t/o
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 15mins Tide beginning to turn in this game as Ulster are now gaining the pens
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 15mins Result of Ulster scrum results in another pen to Ulster & Tommy Bowe has found a gap
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 17mins Ulster go out wide, and have they dramatically got a try?
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 17mins Ref's decision> ball was held up by the magnificent Sexton
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 17mins Scrum 5 to Ulster & they are keeping it tight, 3 metres from T/L
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 18mins Blue flag waving fans happy as Leinster are awarded pen> Sexton hammers ball out of 22
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 19mins Ulster fans not happy after much confusion at the lineout
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 21mins Leinster back on charge but pinged for not releasing. Sexton pointing to his left knee
Ulster 0-10 Leinster 23mins Cian Healy pinged in own 22 for not releasing at the tackle> Ruan Pienaar teeing up
Ulster 3-10 Leinster 24mins Silence transcends upon stadium before Pienaar's kick sails through
Ulster 3-10 Leinster 24mins Big mistake from Sexton as his restart kick goes straight into touch> scrum on H/W
Ulster 3-10 Leinster 26mins Ulster's scrum having to be reset & Jackson now flying near to right blindside
Ulster 3-10 Leinster 26mins Ulster's efforts were in vain as Tom Court is pinged for going in at side, again
Ulster 3-10 Leinster 28mins Leinster trying to salvage an attack & Ulster give away another pen> Sexton tees up
Ulster 3-10 Leinster 29mins Sexton unusually misses and looks devastated
Ulster 3-10 Leinster 30mins Calamitous passage of play from both sides, resulting in a scrum to Leinster on H/W
Ulster 3-10 Leinster 32mins Scrum collapsed giving Sexton another chance to go for goal
Ulster 3-13 Leinster 33mins This time Sexton doesn't miss, despite it being a tougher kick than the last
Ulster 3-13 Leinster 34mins Restart ball not secured by Leinster> Ulster pelting downfield. Jennings pinged again
Ulster 3-13 Leinster 34mins Ulster have chance to reply to Sexton's recent pts as Pienaar tees up
Ulster 6-13 Leinster 35mins Huge roar from Ulster fans as Pienaar's kick goes over
Ulster 6-13 Leinster 37mins Leinster on the attack once more, T/L is in sight as players creep forward
Ulster 6-13 Leinster 38mins Leinster 2 metres short of T/L but awarded the pen> Sexton going for posts
Ulster 6-13 Leinster 38mins Ulster fans not happy as replay shows John Afoa's leg being held by player on floor
Ulster 6-16 Leinster 39mins Boos heard around stadium as Sexton's kick goes over
Ulster 6-16 Leinster 40mins Leinster hauled the last pts before HT, but the title could still be either sides'

Ulster 6-16 Leinster HT P: Pienaar (2) | T: Jennings C: Sexton P: Sexton (3)

Ulster 6-16 Leinster 40mins Players back on pitch & Sexton KO
Ulster 6-16 Leinster 40mins Crowd definitely got louder over the break
Ulster 6-16 Leinster 41mins Ulster raring their way deep into Leinster territory> Ulster pinged for being off feet
Ulster 6-16 Leinster 41mins Leinster player down on the ground receiving treatment & game has paused
Ulster 6-16 Leinster 41mins Ian Madigan player who was down & claps resonate around stadium as he gets back up
Ulster 6-16 Leinster 43mins Leinster now making tracks into Ulster 22 & they are handed adv
Ulster 6-16 Leinster 43mins Boos chorus around ground & Robbie Diack sinbinned for being off feet> Sexton tees up
Ulster 6-19 Leinster 45mins Sexton's kick sails through despite distracting noise
Ulster 9-19 Leinster 46mins Paddy Jackson found a gap & held back by Leinster player> Pienaar kicks pen over
Ulster 9-19 Leinster 46mins Isa Nacewa the player who held Jackson by the collar> sin-binned
Ulster 9-19 Leinster 49mins Leinster not ones to be downtrodden as they delve deep into Ulster's 22
Ulster 9-19 Leinster 49mins Ulster handed a pen as Madigan doesn't release ball before getting back to feet
Ulster 12-19 Leinster 50mins Unusual silence descends as Pienaar boots over another pen
Ulster 12-19 Leinster 54mins Things beginning to go Ulster's way as they're handed pen deep in Leinster territory
Ulster 12-19 Leinster 54mins Ball instantly handed to Pienaar, and silence once again shrouds the pitch
Ulster 15-19 Leinster 55mins 'PIENAAR' chanted around stadium as his pen magnificently sails though
Ulster 15-19 Leinster 57mins Both sides back to 15 men & Leinster pursuing Ulster's 22
Ulster 15-19 Leinster 58mins Sexton almost through down left blindside & Isaac Boss k/o. Crowd gloriously in song
Ulster 15-19 Leinster 58mins Ulster scrum in own 22> scrum has to be reset
Ulster 15-19 Leinster 59mins Chanting and boot thumping from crowd as Ulster secure scrum ball
Ulster 15-19 Leinster 60mins Leinster handed pen as game reaches final quarter> Sexton kicks for touch
Ulster 15-19 Leinster 60mins Leinster matter of metres from the T/L> men in blue handed adv. Is there a try?
Ulster 15-19 Leinster 62mins 'Is there any reason I cannot award the try?' asked to TMO.
Ulster 15-24 Leinster 63mins Huge roar from crowd as Jamie Heaslip is warded the try. Sexton misses conversion
Ulster 15-24 Leinster 65mins Ulster going on attack, but Tommy Bowe k/o> Leinster scrum near own 22
Ulster 15-24 Leinster 67mins Ulster handed pen> Pienaar points to posts
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 68mins Pienaar's kick belts beautifully through and Ulster are clawing back at scoreboard
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 71mins Healy blasting way forward as Leinster forces their opponents back> Ulster handed pen
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 72mins See-saw game as Ulster take turn to thrust towards Leinster's 22. Mike Allen k/o
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 73mins 'Leinster!' being chanted as the men in blue secure the scrum feed
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 74mins Cian Healy k/o> Ulster scrum just inside Leinster's half. Replacements coming on
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 74mins 'Leinster' and 'Ulster' chants interweaving at this Dublin stadium
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 75mins Ulster handed pen> Pienaar going for touch as 3pts not enough now
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 76mins Healy replaced as Ulster have L/O on Leinster 22 line. Hesitation at the L/O
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 77mins Ulster going out wide, Pienaar trying down right blindside. Ball goes to Bowe
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 78mins The dream could be over for Ulster as they concede a pen for not releasing
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 79mins Massive maul from Leinster forces the Ulster pack back
Ulster 18-24 Leinster 79mins Leinster is the name being chanted right now with 30 seconds to go
Ulster 18-24 Leinster FT Brian O'Driscoll boots the ball out and Leinster have done the double
Ulster 18-24 Leinster FT Leinster are now the champions of the Pro 12 as well as the Amlin CC
Ulster 18-24 Leinster FT Leinster fans delirious as their team gathers another piece of silverware to end season

15 Jared Payne 14 Andrew Trimble 13 Darren Cave 12 Stuart Olding 11 Tommy Bowe 10 Paddy Jackson 9 Ruan Pienaar 1 Tom Court 2 Rory Best 3 John Afoa 4 JOHANN MULLER (C) 5 Dan Tuohy 6 Robbie Diack 7 Chris Henry 8 Nick Williams BENCH: 16 Rob Herring 17 Callum Black 18 Declan Fitzpatrick 19 Iain Henderson 20 Mike McComish 21 Paul Marshall 22 Mike Allen 23 Peter Nelson

SCORERS P: Pienaar (6) Robbie Diack

15 Rob Kearney 14 Fergus McFadden 13 Brian O'Driscoll 12 Ian Madigan 11 Isa Nacewa 10 Jonathan Sexton 9 Isaac Boss 1 Cian Healy 2 Richardt Strauss 3 Mike Ross 4 LEO CULLEN (C) 5 Devin Toner 6 Kevin McLaughlin 7 Shane Jennings 8 Jamie Heaslip BENCH: 16 Sean Cronin 17 Jack McGrath 18 Jamie Hagan 19 Quinn Roux 20 Rhys Ruddock 21 John Cooney 22 Andrew Goodman 23 Andrew Conway

SCORERS T: Jennings, Heaslip C: Sexton P: Sexton (4) Isa Nacewa

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU) Asst Referees: George Clancy(IRFU), Peter Fitzgibbon(IRFU) 4th & 5th Officials: Leo Colgan(IRFU), Olly Hodges(IRFU) TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)

 

 

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ULSTER 28 - 17 SCARLETS

Ravenhill - Friday 10 May
KO: 19:45 HT: 18-3 Att: 10,700

ULSTER romped into their first-ever RaboDirect PRO12 final thanks to a display full of power and poise at Ravenhill, putting the Scarlets to the sword with a 28-17 victory.

HIGHLIGHTS

The RaboDirect PRO12 table-toppers scored three fine tries through Tommy Bowe, Robbie Diack and Tom Court and while livewire Gareth Davies scored a delightful solo effort and Sione Timani grabbed one late on for the Scarlets, Ulster were too strong for their Welsh opponents.

Ruan Pienaar was in imperious form at scrum-half while No.8 Nick Williams was at his destructive best and with Jared Payne's broken-field running lighting the touch paper, Ulster blew the Scarlets away.

But the Scarlets, keen to improve on last weekend's poor showing against Treviso, began the brighter and enjoyed the better of the early possession, taking the lead with a fourth-minute penalty after Dan Tuohy was offside.

Owen Williams, a late addition to the starting line-up after Rhys Priestland failed to come through the warm-up, made no mistake and booted the visitors into a 3-0 lead.

It took less than 2 minutes for Ulster to hit back however and good work from the Ulster forwards saw Scarlets lock Joe Snyman pinged for holding on - Pienaar kicking the penalty to level things up.

As the half wore on, it was the Scarlets who continued to carry the fight to Ulster but too many errors from both sides crept in and near could create any clear try-scoring opportunities.

But the game was brought to life on 19 minutes with a scything run from Ulster full-back Payne, who signed on for another three years this week, as he romped his way through the Scarlets defence before putting the grubber through and only desperate defence from George North prevented fellow British & Irish Lion Bowe from gathering the ball.

A minute later, both sides were reduced to 14 men when Andrew Trimble and Liam Williams were sent to the sin bin for fighting and it was Ulster who dealt better with the numerical disadvantage.

Pienaar kicked a long-distance penalty to the corner and after his forwards set the position up, the South African fizzed a pass to Bowe on the left who this time beat North to score his 51st try in the competition.

Pienaar added the conversion and Ulster, led by Williams, who was named the RaboDirect PRO12's Players' Player of the Season, turned up the heat.

Pienaar struck the upright with a penalty after Jonathan Davies was offside but when he kicked to the corner on 33 minutes, a textbook Ulster lineout move saw a rolling maul cut through the Scarlets defence before Diack dotted down his seventh score of the RaboDirect PRO12 season.

The conversion from Pienaar struck the post again but he added a penalty on the stroke of half-time after a powerful Ulster scrum to give the hosts an 18-3 lead at the break.

Just 3 minutes into the second half came the score that appeared to end the match as a contest - Ulster centre Darren Cave making a piercing run following a scrum and while he fell just short of the try-line, prop Court quickly picked up the ball and dotted down.

Pienaar added the extras before a extended passage of stop-start play - thanks in no small part to a serious-looking injury to Scarlets hooker Ken Owens.

On the hour mark replacement scrum-half Davies danced his way through to go over under the posts to give the Scarlets a glimmer of hope but a Pienaar plenty soon after kept them at arms' length.

The Scarlets refused to throw in the towel and did finish the game the stronger, with Timani powering over from close range but they could not get close enough.

15 Jared Payne 14 Andrew Trimble 13 Darren Cave 12 Stuart Olding 11 Tommy Bowe 10 Paddy Jackson 9 Ruan Pienaar 1 Tom Court 2 Rory Best 3 Declan Fitzpatrick 4 Johann MULLER (C) 5 Dan Tuohy 6 Robbie Diack 7 Chris Henry 8 Nick Williams BENCH: 16 Rob Herring 17 Callum Black 18 Ricky Lutton 19 Iain Henderson 20 Mike McComish 21 Paul Marshall 22 Mike Allen 23 Peter Nelson

SCORERS T: Bowe, Diack, Court C: Pienaar (2) P: Pienaar (3) Trimble

15 Liam Williams 14 George North 13 Jonathan Davies 12 Scott Williams 11 Andy Fenby 10 Owen Williams 9 Aled Davies 1 Phil John 2 Ken Owens 3 Samson Lee 4 George Earle 5 Joe Snyman 6 Aaron Shingler 7 Josh Turnbull 8 ROB MCCUSKER (C) BENCH: 16 Emyr Phillips 17 Rhodri Jones 18 Jacobie Adriaanse 19 Jake Ball 20 Sione Timani 21 Gareth Davies 22 Aled Thomas 23 Gareth Owen

SCORERS T: Gareth Davies, Timani C:  Owen Williams (2) P: Owen Williams Liam Williams

Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU) Asst Referees: Andrew McMenemy (SRU), Adrian Graves (SRU) TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU) Citing Commissioner: Douglas Hunter (SRU)

 

 

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LEINSTER 17 - 15 GLASGOW

Royal Dublin Society - Saturday 11 May
KO: 19:35 HT: 11-10 Att: 13,235

STUART HOGG's late missed conversion proved costly for Glasgow Warriors as they were cruelly denied a first RaboDirect PRO12 final by a clinical Leinster side at the RDS 17-15.

HIGHLIGHTS  

Gregor Townsend's side have been the most prolific attacking team in the competition this season and showed all their enterprise to outscore the reigning European champions two tries to one, the third straight time they have managed the feat in Dublin. But it was Leinster's experience, led by Jonathan Sexton, which proved decisive, as Jamie Heaslip's first-half try edged them to a narrow win and a place in the final against Irish rivals Ulster in Dublin in a fortnight's time.

After the sides had felt their way into the game in the opening ten minutes it was Leinsterwho took the lead as Sexton slotted a straightforward penalty.

But Joe Schmidt's side were dealt a blow almost immediately when Brian O'Driscoll was forced off with an injury, Andrew Conway replacing him and Fergus McFadden moving into the centres. Glasgow were also forced into an early change as second row Tim Swinson went off with a blood injury, Tom Ryder coming on to replace him.

However the visitors looked far from overwhelmed, in their third semi-final in four years, and it was livewire scrum-half Nikola Matawalu who produced the game's first try on the quarter-hour. After a series of attacks had brought the Warriors within striking distance, the Fijian picked and went off the back of a ruck and dotted down under the posts despite the attentions of the Leinster fringe defence. Hogg slotted a simple conversion to put Glasgow 7-3 up, and it could have been even better for the visitors soon after as Rob Kearney brilliantly held up a rampaging Ryan Grant who looked certain to score.

Hogg did add another penalty soon after as Glasgow, with Swinson back on, appeared to have all the momentum on their side.

But Leinster have not reached the final in each of the last three years without knowing how to respond to pressure and they scored their first try just two minutes later. A powerful rolling maul from an attacking lineout had the Glasgow defence at breaking point and as the Scottish pack faltered Heaslip peeled off the back to crash over despite the best efforts of Matawalu.

It got worse for Glasgow almost immediately as a storming run from Kevin McLaughlin had the Warriors scrambling backwards, and Matawalu was sent to the sin-bin when he was in the way of a pass while in an offside position. Sexton slotted the resulting penalty to put Leinster back in front 11-10, and Glasgow were hit with another set-back when Josh Strauss had to be replaced, Ryan Harley coming on in his place.

The visitors managed to hang on until half-time though despite one moment of danger when Isa Nacewa looked set to collect Sexton's kick to score only to be beaten by the bounce of the ball.

Matawalu returned at the start of the second half and it was Glasgow who posed the first danger with a searing break from Peter Horne, but after he had chipped ahead Nacewa's incredible kick from the narrowest of angles cleared the danger.

But the game was becoming more open and it was Glasgow who appeared the more threatening, Sean Maitland stepping his way into the 22 only to lose the ball, and Hogg attacking the line at pace.

The Leinster scrum was on top, however, and that allowed them to take the steam out of the game, and just after the hour Sexton extended the lead with a penalty after Horne was penalised for crossing. The Ireland fly-half had the chance to extend the lead further with another penalty attempt but his effort rebounded off the post.

Shortly after Leinster lost their second centre of the afternoon as Gordon D'Arcy had to be helped off the pitch, with Ian Madigan replacing him. But another scrum penalty, just inside the Leinster half, allowed Sexton to put Leinster seven points clear at 17-10.

Glasgow looked to be fading but a stunning counter-attack saw Matawalu, now on the wing, sprint away down the left but despite some breathtaking offloads, Leinster held out until a knock on from John Barclay. Deep in Leinster territory the Warriors reversed the trend in the scrum and earned a penalty, and after a barrage of attacks it was replacement centre Mark Bennett who crashed over with just five minutes remaining. But with the chance to level the scores from wide on the right, Hogg's conversion drifted wide, to leave Leinster two points clear.

Still Glasgow continued to press but a knock on from Matawalu gave Leinster a scrum in the middle of the pitch and they earned a penalty to book a return to the ground on May 25 against Ulster.

15 Rob Kearney 14 Fergus McFadden 13 Brian O'Driscoll 12 Gordon D'Arcy 11 Isa Nacewa 10 Jonathan Sexton 9 Isaac Boss 1 Cian Healy 2 Richardt Strauss 3 Mike Ross 4 LEO CULLEN (C) 5 Devin Toner 6 Kevin McLaughlin 7 Sean O'Brien 8 Jamie Heaslip BENCH: 16 Sean Cronin 17 Jack McGrath 18 Jamie Hagan 19 Quinn Roux 20 Shane Jennings 21 John Cooney 22 Ian Madigan 23 Andrew Conway

SCORERS T: Heaslip P: Sexton (4)

15 Stuart Hogg 14 Sean Maitland 13 Sean Lamont 12 Alex Dunbar 11 DTH van der Merwe 10 Pete Horne 9 Nikola Matawalu 1 Ryan Grant 2 Pat MacArthur 3 Jon Welsh 4 Tim Swinson 5 ALASTAIR KELLOCK (C) 6 Josh Strauss 7 John Barclay 8 Ryan Wilson BENCH: 16 Fraser Brown 17 Moray Low 18 Ed Kalman 19 Tom Ryder 20 Rob Harley 21 Henry Pyrgos 22 Ruaridh Jackson 23 Mark Bennett

SCORERS T: Matawalu, Bennett C: Hogg P: Hogg Matawalu

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FFR) Asst Referees: Marius Mitrea(FIR), Giuseppe Vivarini (FIR) TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR) Citing Commissioner: Ray Wilton (WRU)

 

 

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BRITISH & IRISH LIONS duo Sean Maitland and Stuart Hogg came off the bench to ensure Glasgow Warriors ended the regular RaboDirect PRO12 season on a high with a 20-3 victory at Connacht. The Warriors were in control for much of the contest with DTH van der Merwe's try helping them into a 10-3 lead at the break. Connacht's attempt to give coach Eric Elwood the perfect send-off never really got going and once Hogg and Maitland appeared Glasgow closed out the game.

A first-half blitz with tries from Greig Tonks, Greig Laidlaw and Netani Talei ensured Edinburgh finished their campaign with a 31-24 win over the Dragons, withstanding a late onslaught from their visitors. Edinburgh's three scores came in 11 first-half minutes which proved enough for victory but back-to-back scores from Dan Lydiate and Tom Prydie almost completed a remarkable turnaround.

Munster-bound wing Andrew Conway bagged a hat-trick as Leinster secured a home play-off with a 37-19 victory over Ospreys. The 21-year-old crossed the whitewash twice in the first half and immediately after the break when he collected his own kick to race home in a fine display. Defending champions Ospreys were not going down without a fight and two tries in seven minutes towards the end of the first half had given them hope. But while Tom Isaacs got a third try for the Welsh side, Cian Healy secured Leinster the bonus point with a fourth try for Leinster to set up a semi-final with Glasgow and end Ospreys' season.

Four fine tries from Treviso secured their most successful RaboDirect PRO12 season with an impressive 41-17 victory away to the Scarlets, who scraped into the semi-finals. Treviso were well worth their victory, even extending their lead when down to 13 men, while the Scarlets were relieved that the Ospreys were unable to defeat Leinster, ensuring Simon Easterby's side kept hold of fourth place and booked a play-off trip to Ravenhill to face Ulster.

Andrew Trimble scored twice in a blistering second-half spell for Ulster who secured top spot and a home semi-final with a bonus-point 37-13 victory over Cardiff Blues on Friday. The hosts, trailing 13-10 at the break, proved why they have resided at the summit of the table for most of the season by blitzing their way to 27 unanswered points - wing Trimble the architect. His efforts were preceded by Ruan Pienaar's first-half try - the South African fly-half finishing the contest with 22 points in total - as Ulster made it four successive wins in the RaboDirect PRO12 and consequently set up a clash with Scarlets in the play-offs.

Replacement BJ Botha scored the decisive try as Munster ended their season on a high with a 27-25 victory at Zebre, while at the same time condemning the Italians to a winless campaign. Prop Botha scored within two minutes of coming on for John Ryan in the second half and that, coupled with first-half tries from Johne Murphy and Paddy Butler, saw Munster pick up just their second victory in eight RaboDirect PRO12 matches. Sinoti Sinoti and Giovanbattista Venditti efforts for the hosts ultimately proved in vain, and their ninth losing bonus point will do little to ease the pain of their 22nd straight league defeat.

RESULTS

CONNACHT 3 - 20 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Sportsground - 3 May 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 3-10 Att: 6,081
Connacht P: Parks
Glasgow T: van der Merwe, Maitland C: Jackson, Hogg P: Hogg DG: Jackson Welsh

 

EDINBURGH RUGBY 31 - 24 DRAGONS

Murrayfield - 3 May 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 25-10 Att: 3,660
Edinburgh T: Tonks, Laidlaw, Talei C: Laidlaw (2) P: Laidlaw (4) Cox
Dragons T: S Jones, Lydiate, Prydie C: Prydie (3) P: Prydie Wardle, Coombs

 

LEINSTER 37 - 19 OSPREYS

Royal Dublin Society - 3 May 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 17-12 Att: 17,583
Leinster T: Conway (3), Healy C: Sexton (3), Madigan P: Sexton (3)
Ospreys T: Biggar, John, Isaacs C: Biggar (2)

 

SCARLETS 17 - 41 BENETTON TREVISO

Parc y Scarlets - 3 May 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 12-13 Att: 9,129
Scarlets T: LB Williams P: O Williams (4)
Treviso T: Barbier, Vosawai, Morisi, Loamanu C: Burton (3) P: Burton (5) Roux, Bernabo

 

ULSTER RUGBY 37 - 13 CARDIFF BLUES

Ravenhill - 3 May 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 10-13 Att: 10,700
Ulster T: Pienaar, Trimble (2), Diack C: Pienaar (4) P: Pienaar (3)
Blues T: Hewitt C: Patchell P: Patchell DG: Patchell Hewitt

 

ZEBRE 25 - 27 MUNSTER

Stadio XXV Aprile - 3 May 2013
KO: 20:45 HT: 22-14 Att: 2,500
Zebre T: Sinoti, Venditti P: Halangahu (3), Garcia (2)
Munster T: Murphy, Butler, Botha C: Keatley (3) P: Keatley (2)

 

 

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NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS ended their poor run in the RaboDirect PRO12 with a home win over a young Munster side. Coach Rod Penney retained just three players from last weekend's narrow loss to Leinster and the young Munster reinforcements were second best for large periods, allowing the Dragons to end an unwanted four-game losing streak in the competition as they won 30-24. Prydie was one of the stars of the show, adding 17 with the boot and was ably backed up by Steffan Jones, who scored eight, including a first-half try. Munster refused to throw in the towel after the break and produced a much-improved display as Ronan O'Mahony, CJ Stander and Johne Murphy all touched down to add to Paddy Butler's first-half try but it wasn't enough for the Heineken Cup semi-finalists.

Ryan Grant scored two tries as high-flying Glasgow Warriors closed the gap on the leaders with a commanding 35-17 victory over play-off hopefuls Ospreys. Head coach Gregor Townsend had demanded a response from his players after their recent defeat to Scarlets and made a number of changes. He had also urged the side to win for long-time club servant John Barclay, who played what could be his final home game for the club on his 150th appearance.

Emerging centre Stuart Olding made it four tries in six as Ulster beat Connacht 34-18 to move closer to a home play-off semi-final. The 20-year-old scored the first of Ulster's five tries in a bonus-point win that also saw Tommy Bowe become the first player to reach 50 Celtic League tries. Fellow wing Andrew Trimble and full-back Jared Payne also crossed the whitewash while hooker Rory Best grabbed the other and Ruan Pienaar kicked nine points. Connacht gave as good as they got for much of the game but first-half tries from George Naoupu and Fetu'u Vainikolo ultimately proved too little to stop Ulster cementing their place at the top of the table.

Treviso completed a RaboDirect PRO12 double over Edinburgh after tries from Manoa Vosawai, Michele Rizzo and Simone Favaro secured the Italian side a 30-10 victory at the Stadio di Monigo Edinburgh led for much of the first half through Matt Scott's well-worked try but after full-back Tom Brown was yellow carded on 33 minutes Treviso seized their moment. Replacement Vosawai grabbed the crucial converted try on the stroke of half time and prop Rizzo put daylight between the two sides when he dived over for another seven-point score on the hour mark. Edinburgh searched for a response but despite a numerical advantage in the closing stages it was Treviso who had the final say when Favaro sealed the win.

Jon Davies grabbed a try in each half to ensure The Scarlets' hopes of making the play-offs will remain solely in their hands in the final round of fixtures after they saw off Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues. Despite trailing to an early Leigh Halfpenny penalty, two scores from Davies and another great individual effort from Lee Williams gave Scarlets the victory in a game that also marked the return of Rhys Priestland. Scarlets came into the game boasting a four-game winning streak in the RaboDirect PRO12 and after Ospreys had failed to pick up any points against Glasgow Warriors on Friday, they knew a win would move them up into fourth spot.

Full-back Isa Nacewa grabbed the fifth and final try as Leinster returned to second place in the table with a 41-22 bonus-point win on the road at Zebre. Nacewa touched down in the 61st minute and, with Jonathan Sexton converting for a personal points haul of 16, completed a sequence of 24 unanswered points with Zebre level at half-time. Fionn Carr and Dominic Ryan also scored in the second half to take the game away from the Italian outfit and add to tries from Tom Denton and Fergus McFadden in the first 40. Sinoti Sinoti's score and a try, a penalty and two conversions from Daniel Halangahu kept Zebre in contention at 17-17 at half-time but they contributed just Carlo Festuccia's effort after the break. Leinster moved back above Glasgow into second in the RaboDirect PRO12 table courtesy of the win with one point separating the two ahead of the final round of the regular season in two weeks time.

RESULTS

DRAGONS 30 - 24 MUNSTER

Rodney Parade - 19 April 2013
KO: 19:00 HT: 19-5 Att: 7,523
Dragons T: S Jones, Wardle C: Prydie P: Prydie (5) DG: S Jones
Munster T: Butler, O'Mahony, Stander, Murphy C: Keatley (2) Butler

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS 35 - 17 OSPREYS

Scotstoun - 19 April 2013
KO: 19:35 HT: 22-3 Att: 6,642
Glasgow T: Grant (2), Maitland, Matawalu, van der Merwe C: Weir (2) P: Weir, Horne Grant
Ospreys T: Griffiths, Lewis C: Biggar (2) P: Biggar AR Jones

 

CONNACHT 18 - 34 ULSTER RUGBY

Sportsground - 19 April 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 15-22 Att: 6,463
Connacht T: Naoupu, Vainikolo C: Parks P: Parks, Nikora
Ulster T: Olding, Trimble, Best, Bowe, Payne C: Pienaar (3) P: Pienaar

 

BENETTON TREVISO 30 - 10 EDINBURGH

Stadio di Monigo - 19 April 2013
KO: 20:30 HT: 13-10 Att: 3,200
Treviso T: Vosawai, Rizzo, Favaro C: di Bernardo (3) P: di Bernardo (3) Gori, Fernandez-Rouyet
Edinburgh T: Scott C: Laidlaw P: Laidlaw Brown

 

SCARLETS 24 - 6 CARDIFF BLUES

Parc y Scarlets - 20 April 2013
KO: 18:30 HT: 10-6 Att: 10,427
Scarlets T: J Davies (2), LB Williams C: O Williams (2), Priestland P: O Williams
Blues P: Halfpenny (2)

 

ZEBRE 22 - 41 LEINSTER

Stadio XXV Aprile - 21 April 2013
KO: 16:00 HT: 19-17 Att: 4,700
Zebre T: Sinoti, Halangahu, Festuccia C: Halangahu (2) P: Halangahu
Leinster T: Denton, McFadden, Carr, Ryan, Nacewa C: Sexton (5) P: Sexton (2)

 

 

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TRIES from Ken Owens and Liam Williams saw Scarlets continue their push for the play-offs with a comfortable 29-6 win over Glasgow Warriors. The Llanelli-based side have now won their last five games at home and completed the clean clean sweep against Scottish opponents this season. Victory for the Warriors would have ensured them a play-off spot but they now find themselves knocked off the top of the table by Ulster and far from guaranteed a home semi-final. The Scottish outfit were never really at the races at Parc y Scarlets and inspired by the nerveless kicking off Owen Williams the Scarlets moved into fourth with Ospreys playing on Saturday.

Ulster bounced back from European disappointment in style as they moved top of the table with a comprehensive 31-5 win over the Dragons at Ravenhill. A week after going out of the Heineken Cup at the hands of Saracens, Ulster took a while to get going as the Dragons frustrated them for the opening quarter, but after Tommy Bowe went over on his first start since injury, they cut loose. The bonus point win was enough to fire them to the top of the table as they took advantage of Glasgow Warriors' defeat away to the Scarlets.

Robbie Henshaw's late try handed Connacht a dramatic 32-24 win in the RaboDirect PRO12, ending Edinburgh's unbeaten start to life under Duncan Hodge and Stevie Scott in the process. Henshaw burrowed over from close range with four minutes remaining to re-take the lead, Parks adding a penalty with the last kick of the game to seal the win. Eric Elwood, in his last season in charge of the Irish outfit, had challenged his side to improve on last season's eighth place finish and this result sees them continue to close the gap on Treviso in seventh. Four wins in their last five proves Connacht are a side in form while Edinburgh's run of two wins in a row is now at an end despite seeing Laidlaw slot 24 points with the boot.

Cardiff Blues celebrated securing their place in next season's Heineken Cup with a 28-13 victory against winless Zebre at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday. Newport Gwent Dragons' 31-5 defeat on Friday to Ulster meant they could not catch the Blues, who will be playing in Europe's premier cup competition next season. And Cardiff swept Zebre away in the rain, running in three tries to the Italians' one, including a late score for Jamie Roberts. The Welsh star and his fellow international Ceri Sweeney said goodbye to the region in style, playing a full part in the victory in what is expected to be their final home game for the region.

Brian O'Driscoll came to Leinster's rescue as his late try gave them a 22-16 win over arch-rivals Munster at Thomond Park. Wins for both the Scarlets and the Ospreys this weekend had increased the pressure on Joe Schmidt's side in the race for the play-off spots and for a while it looked as if Munster were going to put a spanner in the works. Paul O'Connell's side have little left to play for in the domestic league but a local rivalry of this magnitude meant the game was anything but a dead rubber. Fresh from their Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Harlequins, Munster scored two tries through Ian Keatley and Felix Jones, to O'Driscoll's solitary score for the visitors but it was the boot of Ian Madigan that kept the game tight.

A fine all-round display from Wales international Dan Biggar helped Ospreys back into the play-off places as they saw off the challenge of Treviso. Biggar crashed over for a try and kicked three penalties to see his side to a comfortable 28-3 victory at the Liberty Stadium, getting the better of the Italians for the first time in three meetings this season. Winger Ben John and scrum-half Rhys Webb also scored tries, with Biggar converting twice - from his own score and that of Webb's which came from the final play of the match. The victory keeps Ospreys in contention to retain their RaboDirect PRO12 title, though they missed out on a bonus point that could yet prove crucial. Steve Tandy's men had fallen out of the top four ahead of kick off after fellow Welsh region Scarlets beat Glasgow last night to leapfrog them in the play-offs. And the hosts' plans were dealt a further blow as they were forced into a late change at the Liberty Stadium when Kahn Fotuali'i, who is set to leave the club for Premiership side Northampton Saints in the summer, was forced to withdraw from the team due to illness, Webb taking his place at scrum-half.

RESULTS

SCARLETS 29 - 6 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Parc y Scarlets - 12 April 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 16-6 Att: 6,901
Scarlets T: Owen Williams, Liam Wiliams C: Owen Williams (2) P: Owen Williams (4) DG: Owen Williams
Glasgow P: Jackson (2)

 

ULSTER RUGBY 31 - 5 DRAGONS

Ravenhill - 12 April 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 24-0 Att: 9,647
Ulster T: Bowe, Olding, Cave, Marshall C: Pienaar (4) P: Pienaar
Dragons T: Prydie Dan Evans

 

EDINBURGH RUGBY 24 - 32 CONNACHT

Murrayfield - 12 April 2013
KO: 19:30 HT: 15-13 Att: 4.171
Edinburgh P: Laidlaw (8)
Connacht T: Kearney, Henshaw C: Parks (2) P: Parks (4), Duffy DG: Parks Parks, Loughney

 

CARDIFF BLUES 28 - 13 ZEBRE

Cardiff Arms Park - 13 April 2013
KO: 14:30 HT: 21-6 Att: 9,769
Blues T: Patchell, Evans, Roberts C: Halfpenny (2) P: Halfpenny (3)
Zebre T: Cristiano C: Chiesa P: Halangahu (2) Sarto

 

MUNSTER 16 - 22 LEINSTER

Thomond Park - 13 April 2013
KO: 18:30 HT: 10-12 Att: 23,037
Munster T: Keatley, Jones P: Keatley (2)
Leinster T: O'Driscoll C: Madigan P: Madigan (5)

 

OSPREYS 28 - 3 BENETTON TREVISO

Liberty Stadium - 13 April 2013
KO: 18:30 HT: 14-3 Att: 9,138
Ospreys T: John, Biggar, Webb C: Biggar (2) P: Biggar (3)
Treviso P: Botes Roux

 

 

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THREE Greig Laidlaw penalties ensured Edinburgh chalked up a second straight RaboDirect PRO12 win under Stevie Scott - but Zebre came within a lick of paint of a first ever victory, only to go down 9-7. Trailing by two points with the clock ticking down, Italy fly-half Luciano Orquera tried his luck with a drop goal, only to see his effort cannon back off the crossbar to hand Edinburgh a reprieve. It was a case of wasted opportunities for Edinburgh who were almost made to pay, only for Zebre to fall just short of a maiden RaboDirect PRO12 victory again, making do with an eighth losing bonus point of the season.

Fly-half Ruaridh Jackson racked up 22 points to guide Glasgow Warriors to a thumping 51-24 victory over Munster which moved the Scots back to the top of the table. Jackson and co put last weekend's defeat to Leinster behind them with a comfortable win in which Sean Maitland, Niko Matawalu, Jackson, Mark Bennett, Stuart Hogg and John Barclay all scored. Munster impressed in the first half, largely through Tommy O'Donnell and Paul O'Connell, but they were thoroughly overwhelmed in the second half as the Warriors chalked up an eighth RaboDirect PRO12 win in nine matches with a six-try blitz.

Centre Jonathan Davies grabbed the decisive try on his 100th appearance for the Scarlets, who clinched an impressive 28-20 victory over the Dragons at the Millennium Stadium. In the first half of Judgement Day, Davies and two George North scores helped the Scarlets to a victory over the defiant Dragons which saw Simon Easterby's side move into the top four. But they could not find the fourth try which would earn them an extra point, ensuring they went four points clear of the Ospreys, who faced the Blues later on Saturday at the Millennium Stadium. Leading 16-13, Davies grabbed the crucial try for Scarlets on 66 minutes and North crossed for his second score two minutes later in a devastating short burst that accounted for the Dragons.

Despite a second half fight back from the Cardiff Blues, the Ospreys hung on to claim a 23-16 victory and keep their RaboDirect PRO12 play-off dreams alive at the Millennium Stadium on Judgement Day. Leading 20-10 at the interval, the Ospreys allowed the tempo to slacken and Cardiff worked their way back into the game, with all the homeside’s points again coming from Leigh Halfpenny. But a late Dan Biggar penalty meant the Ospreys moved back into fourth place in the table ahead of Welsh rivals the Scarlets on points difference.

Tries from Robbie Diack and Iain Henderson helped Ulster make history with a dramatic 22-18 win over Leinster that sees them overtake their Irish rivals in the RaboDirect PRO12 table. In the rematch of last year's Heineken Cup final Ulster were deserved winners in the RDS, their first ever victory at the ground and their first in Dublin for 14 years that sees them climb back up to second in the league. Diack's first-half score and Henderson's effort after the break were supplemented by some superb goal-kicking from man-of-the-match Ruan Pienaar. For Leinster it was once again the Ian Madigan show, the 24-year-old fly-half kicking six penalties from six but his side failed to get over the whitewash, with some last-ditch defending from Ulster denying them at the death. The win was greeted by near total silence at a stunned RDS but comes at the perfect time for an Ulster side that had struggled to match their whirlwind start to the season in recent weeks.

Treviso's match with Connacht was originally postponed as a result of an unplayable pitch, and was replayed on 26th April. Paul O'Donohoe's late try secured Connacht a share of the spoils in a pulsating 23-23 draw against Benetton Treviso that came dramatically alive in the last ten minutes. With the exception of their most recent match, encounters between these sides have traditionally been close and so it proved again at the Stadio Monigo. But it appeared the Italian side were heading to victory - after a 72nd-minute penalty try - until replacement scrum-half O'Donohoe crossed the line and Dan Parks converted, the match finishing deadlocked.

RESULTS

ZEBRE 7 - 9 EDINBURGH RUGBY

Stadio XXV Aprile - Friday 29 March 2013
KO: 19:00 HT: 7-6 Att: 1,800
Zebre T: van Schalkwyk C: Orquera
Edinburgh P: Laidlaw (3)

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS 51 - 24 MUNSTER

Scotstoun - Friday 29 March 2013
KO: 20:05 HT: 20-14 Att: 5,692
Glasgow T: Maitland, Matawalu, Jackson, Bennett, Hogg, Barclay C: Jackson (4), Weir (2) P: Jackson (3)
Munster T: Laulala, Kilcoyne, Howlett C: O'Gara (2), Keatley P: O'Gara

 

DRAGONS 20 - 28 SCARLETS

Rodney Parade - Saturday 30 March 2013
KO: 14:30 HT: 10-10 Att: tba
Dragons T: Jonathan Evans, Dan Evans C: Prydie (2) P: Prydie (2) Faletau
Scarlets T: North (2), Jonathan Davies C: Owen Williams (2) P: O Williams (3)

 

CARDIFF BLUES 16 - 23 OSPREYS

Cardiff Arms Park - Saturday 30 March 2013
KO: 17:15 HT: 10-20 Att: tba
Blues T: Halfpenny C: Halfpenny P: Halfpenny (3)
Ospreys T: King, Spratt C: Biggar (2) P: Biggar (3)

 

LEINSTER 18 - 22 ULSTER RUGBY

Royal Dublin Society - Saturday 30 March 2013
KO: 18:15 HT: 12-8 Att: tba
Leinster P: Madigan (6)
Ulster T: Diack, Henderson P: Pienaar (4) Payne

 

BENETTON TREVISO 23 - 23 CONNACHT

Stadio di Monigo - Saturday 30 March 2013
KO: 20:00 HT:  3-10 Att: 4,850
Treviso T: Gori, PT C: di Bernardo (2) P: di Bernardo (3)
Connacht T: Vainikolo, O’Donohoe C: Parks (2) P: Parks (3)
(Originally postponed on 30th March 2013)

 

 

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TRIES either side of half-time from Liam Williams and Joe Snyman kept the Scarlets' RaboDirect PRO12 play-off charge on course with a 24-10 victory against winless Zebre. The accuracy of Owen Williams' boot was equally important for the visitors - his 14 points helping their cause for a top-four berth and upping the pressure on third-placed Leinster. The hosts meanwhile remain bottom, but had returning Six Nations star Giovanbattista Venditti on the scoresheet as well as South African Dries Van Schalkwyk. But it was Liam Williams, returning from Wales Six Nations duty, who proved the difference, with his namesake Owen crucially keeping the scoreboard ticking over which helped prevent a repeat of their nerve-racking 22-13 triumph in the reverse fixture at Parc y Scarlets in November.

Kahn Fotuali'i had a hand in four of Ospreys' seven tries against Newport Gwent Dragons, scoring one as they marched into the play-off places with a 52-19 bonus-point win. The 30-year-old scrum-half, who will leave the Liberty Stadium for Northampton at the end of the season, set Ospreys on their way with a fine individual effort after just four minutes. He then played a role in Tom Habberfield and Ashley Beck's tries in the first half and Tom Isaacs' after the break before Dan Biggar added a fifth, Dimitri Arhip a sixth and Justin Tipuric a seventh. Biggar was perfect with the boot, converting five tries and a penalty, while the Dragons had Dan Evans and Toby Faletau tries and nine points from Steffan Jones to show for their efforts. The win moves reigning RaboDirect PRO12 champions Ospreys up a place from fifth to fourth in the table, leapfrogging Welsh rivals Scarlets who won 24-10 on their travels against Zebre.

Stuart McInally's second-half try helped Stevie Scott and Duncan Hodge get off to the perfect start to life as Edinburgh interim coaches, triumphing 14-8 against Ulster. Scott and Hodge, who returned from their coaching commitments with Scotland in the Six Nations, took charge of their first RaboDirect PRO12 game for the club they represented over 250 times between them as players and ended Edinburgh's 11-game losing streak in all competitions. McInally's try was the difference, but so was the defensive discipline and the nerve of debutant Sean Kennedy at scrum-half. Ulster, who scored through Andrew Trimble, have now failed to win four of their last five games in the league but remain in second place although they could lose ground if Leinster pick up something at home to leaders Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.

Paul O'Connell marked his return to the famous red jersey in style as he scored a try to set Munster on their way to a comfortable 22-0 victory over Connacht at Musgrave Park. The British & Irish Lions lock was making his first RaboDirect PRO12 start since October and wasted little time in making an impression, touching down after just ten minutes. O'Connell, who still harbours hopes of going on the 2013 Lions tour to Australia this summer, was joined on the scoresheet by Damian Varley, the hooker helping himself to two tries. And fly-half Ronan O'Gara kicked the rest of the points as Munster halted a mini-losing run that had seen them not win in their last three games, and recorded their first victory at Musgrave Park since downing Edinburgh on home soil back on February 9 in the process.

Alessandro Zanni returned from international duty to help fire Treviso to their first ever RaboDirect PRO12 victory over Cardiff Blues, triumphing 26-17 in a pulsating encounter at Stadio Monigo. Zanni, along with Lorenzo Cittadini and Leonardo Ghiraldini, made his first start since Italy's final Six Nations match against Ireland last Saturday and opened Treviso's account.
A penalty try and the boot of fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo, who kicked 16 points, also allowed the Italian outfit to keep themselves above the Blues in the table. Dafydd Hewitt and Lou Reed got themselves on the scoresheet for Cardiff, with Ceri Sweeney clocking up seven points, but it wasn't enough to halt a run which now consists of just one league win in their last five outings.

Ian Madigan stole the show on Saturday night as Leinster moved to the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 with a hard-fought 22-17 win over fellow high flyers Glasgow Warriors. The 23-year-old scored all 22 of his side's points, including the winning try for the Irish region in the last ten minutes of the game that he converted himself to complete the come-from-behind victory. In the absence of the injured Jonathan Sexton, Madigan has been a revelation for Joe Schmidt's side this season, kicking goals in metronomic fashion as Leinster remain unbeaten in the RaboDirect PRO12 in 2013. But it was not just from the kicking tee that Madigan impressed against Glasgow, the effervescent stand-off carrying with real intent and breaking the gain-line seemingly at will.

RESULTS

ZEBRE 10 - 24 SCARLETS

Stadio XXV Aprile - 22 March 2013
KO: 19:00 HT: 5-11 Att: 1,100
Zebre T: van Schalkwyk, Venditti
Scarlets T: Liam Williams, Snyman C: Owen Williams P: Owen Williams (4)

 

OSPREYS 52 - 19 DRAGONS

Liberty Stadium - 22 March 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 24-6 Att: 9,935
Ospreys T: Fotuali'i, Habberfield, Beck, Isaacs, Biggar, Arhip C: Biggar (5), Morgan (2) P: Biggar Arhip
Dragons T: DJ Evans, Faletau P: Steffan Jones (3)

 

EDINBURGH RUGBY 14 - 8 ULSTER RUGBY

Murrayfield - 22 March 2013
KO: 19:30 HT: 6-3 Att: 4,714
Edinburgh T: McInally P: Francis (3)
Ulster T: Trimble P: Jackson

 

MUNSTER 22 - 0 CONNACHT

Musgrave Park - 23 March 2013
KO: 17:45 HT: 15-0 Att: 8,203
Munster T: O'Connell, Varnell (2) C: O'Gara (2) P: O'Gara
Connacht Kearney

 

BENETTON TREVISO 26 - 17 CARDIFF BLUES

Stadio di Monigo - 23 March 2013
KO: 19:30 HT: 13-10 Att: 2,600
Treviso T: Zanni, PT C: di Bernardo (2) P: di Bernardo (4)
Blues T: Hewitt, Reed C: Sweeney (2) P: Sweeney Paterson, Andrews

 

LEINSTER 22 - 17 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Royal Dublin Society - 23 March 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 12-17 Att: 16,156
Leinster T: Madigan C:  Madigan P: Madigan (5)
Glasgow T: Kalman, Horne C: Weir (2) P: Weir

 

 

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LEINSTER consolidated their position in the top four of the RaboDirect PRO12 table securing a bonus point in a 26-19 win at Newport Gwent Dragons despite a spirited comeback by the hosts at Rodney Parade. A first-half brace from Ireland hooker Sean Cronin and one in each half for wing Dave Kearney kept the visitors ahead throughout, though the Dragons had closed to within five points after 50 minutes with Ieuan Jones' try shortly after the break. It took less than a minute for Leinster to register their first score, and by 67 seconds the visitors held a 7-0 advantage, a lead they would never relinquish.

Simon Easterby's Scarlets survived a host of missed kicks at goal to continue their pursuit of a top-four finish this season with a 14-13 win against a spirited Edinburgh. After Andy Fenby had gone over early for the Scarlets, it seemed as though the floodgates would open but Edinburgh battled back thanks to the kicking of Harry Leonard and a try from Dougie Fife. Aled Thomas and his replacement Owen Williams were wasteful with the boot in the second-half, spurning an avalanche of three-pointers as Edinburgh bravely hung to a narrow lead. However, in the final quarter, after missing his first three attempts at goal, Owen Williams redeemed himself with a simple penalty in front of the posts to give the Scarlets the narrowest of wins.

Dean Budd went over in the last second to complete his hat-trick as Treviso grabbed a 29-29 draw at Ravenhill to dent Ulster's hopes of finishing top of the RaboDirect PRO12. Visiting fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo missed a touchline conversion that would have won the game after his side put in a superb display to come away with a draw from fortress Ravenhill. With Leinster victorious against the Dragons, Mark Anscombe's side now hold a two point lead over their Irish rivals, with Glasgow also in action on Friday, but will feel that they should have wrapped this game up before Kiwi flanker Budd's late heroics.

Three tries in eight second-half minutes were enough for Glasgow Warriors to take advantage of Ulster's draw with Treviso - beating Cardiff Blues 29-12 to move top of the table. Nikola Matawalu's double, along with a try each for Peter Horne and Duncan Weir, who also chipped in with nine points from the boot, were enough for the Warriors after a slow first half. Glasgow came into the game fresh from a bonus-point success over league leaders Ulster, but well-aware of the threat of European champions Leinster. Gregor Townsend's side had won six straight RaboDirect PRO12 to put themselves in an ideal position to push for a home semi-final, but knew they could not afford to slip up at home to the Blues.

Zebre were again denied an historic first-ever RaboDirect PRO12 win at the death as the boot of Dan Parks squeezed Connacht to a 23-19 victory. The Italians led by two points with ten minutes remaining after Gonzalo Garcia's superb long-range penalty, but Parks' drop goal and a final-minute penalty gave Connacht a fourth straight home win in all competitions at the Sportsground.

Nothing could separate Munster and the Ospreys as the play-off chasing sides fought out a 13-13 draw at Thomond Park that did nothing for either of their hopes of a top-four finish this season. There was little to choose between the sides going into the game with six points separating Munster in sixth from the Ospreys in fifth, and the same proved true during the match. The sides went into the break all square at half-time, and scored a try apiece early in the second half through Damien Varley for Munster and Jonathan Thomas for the visitors. But despite playing for another 30 minutes, neither side could break the deadlock.

RESULTS

DRAGONS 19 - 26 LEINSTER

Rodney Parade - 1 March 2013
KO: 19:00 HT: 9-19 Att: 4,258
Dragons T: Ieuan Jones, Steffan Jones P: S Jones (2) DG: S Jones Dixon
Leinster T: Cronin (2), Kearney (2) C: Madigan (3)

 

SCARLETS 14 - 13 EDINBURGH RUGBY

Parc y Scarlets - 1 March 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 8-10 Att: 6,314
Scarlets T: Fenby P: Thomas (2), Owen Williams
Edinburgh T: Fife C: Leonard P: Leonard (2) Fife

 

ULSTER RUGBY 29 - 29 BENETTON TREVISO

Ravenhill - 1 March 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 17-10 Att: 10,678
Ulster T: Trimble, Olding C: Jackson (2) P: Jackson (5) Henderson, Stevenson
Treviso T: Budd (3), Barbieri C: di Bernardo (3) P: di Bernado Iannone

 

GLASGOW 29 - 13 CARDIFF BLUES

Scotstoun - 1 March 2013
KO: 19:35 HT: 10-13 Att: 3,807
Glasgow T: Horne, Matawalu (2), Weir C: Weir (3) P: Weir
Cardiff T: Navidi C: Patchell P: Patchell (2)

 

CONNACHT 23 - 19 ZEBRE

Sportsground - 1 March 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 14-13 Att: tba
Connacht T: McKeon, Duffy C: Parks (2) P: Parks (2) DG: Parks Loughney
Zebre T: Sarto C: Buso P: Buso (3), Garcia Bergamasco

 

MUNSTER 13 - 13 OSPREYS

Thomond Park - 2 March 2013
KO: 18:30 HT: 6-6 Att: 17,748
Munster T: Varley C: O'Gara P: O'Gara (2)
Ospreys  T: JJ Thomas C: Morgan P: Morgan (2) Archer

 

 

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A double from Willie Faloon handed Connacht back-to-back RaboDirect PRO12 victories for the first time since April as the province prevailed 26-22 against Cardiff Blues. Faloon's two tries, added to Danie Poolman's early effort and 11 points from Miah Nikora, secured just a second away win of the season for Eric Elwood's side, who are now up to eighth in the table. It's a third win in 20 matches over the Blues for Connacht and a first at the Arms Park since 2001. For the Blues, it's now just one win in seven at their home ground in the RaboDirect PRO12 this year.

Niko Matawalu inspired Glasgow Warriors as they closed the gap on leaders Ulster with an attritional 20-14 win in a gripping top of the table clash. The victory avenged the 18-10 defeat in Belfast last year and stretched Gregor Townsend's side's winning streak to six games. It was only the third league defeat of the season for Mark Anscombe's team and it trims their advantage at the summit to just three points.

Two tries from Morgan Allen helped the Ospreys to their seventh straight PRO12 win at the Liberty Stadium and restored them to the top four with a 24-7 win over Edinburgh. The No.8 put in a man-of-the-match performance and struck twice early on to give the Welsh side a lead they never surrendered, ensuring a first win over Scottish opposition this season. But defeat for Edinburgh, who had Nick De Luca sent off late on for a tip tackle on Tom Grabham, means they remain winless in the league since a trip to Connacht on December 1.

Leinster saw off play-off rivals Scarlets with a dominant display led by centre Andrew Goodman to move clear of the Welsh region in the fight for a top-four place in the PRO12 table. Goodman scored a fine 33rd-minute try and kicked six points to inspire the hosts, whose 32-5 win preserves their 100 per cent record at the RDS this season. Though Andy Fenby replied with a try for the visitors just two minutes after Goodman's, Leinster were always in control and Aaron Dundon and Jordi Murphy added further tries, before a bonus point was delivered by John Cooney at the very end of the game.

Giulio Toniolatti's late score put an exclamation mark on a misery-filled Munster trip to Italy as Benetton Treviso ran in five tries to win 34-10 at Stadio di Monigo. Munster headed to Italy looking to get their RaboDirect PRO12 charge back on track after losing 18-10 to Scarlets last time out. But while they could only manage a penalty try, a conversion and a penalty from the boot of Ian Keatley, their hosts had no trouble in crossing the whitewash. Ludovico Nitoglia set the tone as the wing touched down after just three minutes and he was joined on the scoresheet by Filippo Giusti, Doppies la Grange, Fabio Semenzato and Toniolatti as Treviso ran riot. Defeat leaves Munster sixth in the RaboDirect PRO12 table, six points off Ospreys in fourth while Treviso are now just nine points further back in eighth.

A Steffan Jones penalty rescued Newport Gwent Dragons and sealed a 14-13 win over Zebre to deny the Italian outfit a first-ever RaboDirect PRO12 victory. Jones' penalty, 14 minutes from time, saw the Dragons squeeze home in Italy, having trailed 10-3 at the half-time interval. It was just a second win in seven matches for the Dragons, who were humbled 60-3 last time out by Glasgow Warriors, and it was a first away win in the RaboDirect PRO12 since March 2012. For Zebre it was another case of close but no cigar, having also come agonisingly near to defeating four of the RaboDirect PRO12 sides.

RESULTS

CARDIFF BLUES 22 - 26 CONNACHT

Cardiff Arms Park - 22 February 2013
KO: 19:30 HT: 8-15 Att: tba
Cardiff T: Robinson, Copeland P: Patchell (4)
Connacht T: Poolman, Faloon (2) C: Nikora P: Nikora (3) Harris-Wright

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS 20 - 14 ULSTER

Scotstoun - 22 February 2013
KO: 19:35 HT: 10-6 Att: tba
Glasgow T: Swinson, Seymour, Murchie, Matawalu
Ulster T: Olding P: Pienaar (3)

 

OSPREYS 24 - 7 EDINBURGH RUGBY

Liberty Stadium - 22 February 2013
KO: 20:40 HT: 14-7 Att: tba
Ospreys T: Allen (2), Webb C: Morgan (3) P: Morgan
Edinburgh T: Watson C: Leonard Atiga de Luca

 

LEINSTER 32 - 5 SCARLETS

Royal Dublin Society - 23 February 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 11-5 Att: tba
Leinster T: Goodman, Dundon, Murphy, Cooney C: Madigan (3) P: Goodman (2)
Scarlets T: Fenby Earle

 

BENETTON TREVISO 34 - 10 MUNSTER

Stadio di Monigo - 24 February 2013
KO: 15:00 HT: 22-3 Att: tba
Treviso T: Nitoglia, Giusti, la Grange, Semenzato, Toniolatti C: di Bernardo (3) P: di Bernardo Maistri
Munster T: PT C: Keatley P: Keatley

 

ZEBRE 13 - 14 DRAGONS

Stadio XXV Aprile - 24 February 2013
KO: 15:05 HT: 10-3 Att: tba
Zebre T: Pratichetti C: Chillon P: Chillon (2) Benettin
Dragons T: Groves P: Steffan Jones (3) Buck, Price

 

 

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GLASGOW WARRIORS centre Mark Bennett grabbed a try on his second debut as Gregor Townsend's side made it five wins from their last five games with an impressive 60-3 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade. Tim Swinson scored two of Glasgow's eight tries in an emphatic win that condemns the Welsh side to their 11th loss this season, leaving them one place off RaboDirect PRO12 bottom side Zebre.

Scotland Under-20s player Bennett, who made one first team appearance for Glasgow in 2011 against Leinster, has returned on loan from current club Clermont Auvergne and marked his comeback with a strong performance. The Warriors hadn't won at Rodney Parade since 2008, but the bonus-point win keeps them within touching distance of Ulster at the top of the table.

Ulster retained their place at the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table with a 26-3 bonus-point victory over Zebre at Ravenhill. Two tries from Robbie Diack and one each for Rob Herring and Ricky Andrew earned the hosts a bonus-point victory, with Ruan Pienaar landing three out of four conversions. Zebre could respond just once through a Daniel Halangahu penalty, leaving the Italians still without a win and bottom of the table.

Rhys Patchell added to his burgeoning reputation with a fine display at fly-half as Cardiff Blues edged out Edinburgh 17-16. Cardiff were in control on the scoreboard at the break, leading 14-6, but despite Mike Paterson's try it was a fairly even opening 40 minutes. Edinburgh flew out of the traps in the second half and replacement prop WP Nel burrowed over for a converted score before replacement fly-half Harry Leonard booted the hosts ahead. But fittingly it was Patchell who settled the contest, the 19-year-old converting a penalty after a fine break from wing Harry Robinson to deliver the Blues their third win in four RaboDirect PRO12 games.

Dan Parks continues to produce his consistent kicking when it matters most as his 17-point haul inspired Connacht to a 22-10 win, a first victory over RaboDirect PRO12 play-off chasing Ospreys since 2008. Kahn Fotuali'i and Willie Faloon exchanged early first-half tries but ill-discipline from the Welsh side was punished throughout the 80 minutes by the in-form fly-half. Ospreys welcomed back Welsh stars Alun-Wyn Jones and James King who formed a strong second row, as part of a starting line-up which still only boasted four internationals.

Dominic Ryan bagged a memorable hat-trick of tries as Leinster blew away Treviso with a flurry of first-half tries to seal a 40-5 victory and assert themselves as one of the favourites for a play-off place. The Irish province had wrapped up the bonus point inside the opening half an hour after two tries from Ryan and a double from Sean Cronin had secured a 26-0 half-time lead. The defeat left Treviso still searching for a first win on Irish soil since December 2011 but they remain eighth in the RaboDirect PRO12 table as Leinster solidified third position behind Glasgow Warriors and leaders Ulster.

Fly-half Owen Williams landed five penalties and a drop goal as the Scarlets took advantage of a rare off day from Ronan O'Gara to claim an 18-10 victory over Munster. The Welsh side were never behind at Parc y Scarlets once the 20-year-old gave them the lead from the tee, with O'Gara left to rue three missed penalties. But Williams showed nerves of steel to control play from the half-back slot, keeping his side in the driving seat until he saw yellow in the dying moments.

RESULTS

DRAGONS 3 - 60 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Rodney Parade - 15 February 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 3-27 Att: 4,311
Dragons P: Prydie
Glasgow T: Bennett, Matawalu, Dunbar, Paris, Swinson (2), Strauss, Thomson C: Weir (5), Wight (2) P: Weir (2)

 

ULSTER RUGBY 26 - 3 ZEBRE

Ravenhill - 15 February 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 12-2 Att: 10,039
Ulster T: Herring, Diack (2), Andrew C: Pienaar (3)
Zebre P:  Halangahu

 

EDINBURGH RUGBY 16 - 17 CARDIFF BLUES

Murrayfield - 15 February 2013
KO: 19:30 HT: 6-14 Att: 3,583
Edinburgh T: Nel C: Hunter P: Hunter (2), Leonard
Cardiff T: Paterson P: Patchell (4)

 

CONNACHT 22 - 10 OSPREYS

Sportsground - 15 February 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 13-7 Att: 4,680
Connacht T: Faloon C: Parks P: Parks (4) DG: Parks
Ospreys T: Fotuali'i C: Morgan P: Morgan King

 

LEINSTER 40 - 5 BENETTON TREVISO

Royal Dublin Society - 16 February 2013
KO: 17:00 HT: 26-0 Att: 16,208
Leinster T: Ryan (3), Cronin (2), Auva'a C: Madigan (4), McFadden
Treviso T: Nitoglia

 

SCARLETS 18 -10 MUNSTER

Parc y Scarlets - 16 February 2013
KO: 18:30 HT: 9-3 Att: 7,124
Scarlets P: O Williams (5) DG: O Williams O William
Munster T: Hurley C: O'Gara P: O'Gara Sherry

 

 

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LEINSTER strengthened their grip on a play-off place after tries from Isaac Boss and Jordi Murphy eased them to a 26-11 victory at Cardiff Blues for a third RaboDirect PRO12 win on the bounce. Despite losing Tom Denton to a yellow card, the visitors led 23-3 at the break thanks to Boss and Murphy and 13 points from the boot of Ian Madigan.

The Blues began the second half with a bang - Jason Tovey crossing the whitewash - but Leinster hit back through the boot of Madigan. The 23-year-old fly-half's penalty proved the final word on the contest, ending Cardiff's two-game winning run in the league and lifting Leinster up to second, within nine points of leaders Ulster.

Prop Ryan Bevington proved to be the unlikely try-scoring hero as the Ospreys secured a dramatic 16-12 victory over RaboDirect PRO12 leaders Ulster, who suffered a first home league defeat of the season. Bevington touched down with 13 minutes remaining for the defending RaboDirect PRO12 champions to edge his side in front and despite a late Ulster onslaught, the Irish province could not find a way back.

Tom Prydie went over with 12 minutes remaining to help the Dragons complete a stunning comeback and deny Treviso 23-14. Treviso arrived at Rodney Parade in search of only their second win away from Italian soil this season in the RaboDirect PRO12 and looked to be well on their way after a flying start. But after some poor early kicking from Steffan Jones, the Dragons woke up to record a vital victory to keep their hopes of Heineken Cup rugby alive next season.

A fine kicking performance from 20-year-old fly-half Owen Williams sealed a first win in three RaboDirect PRO12 matches for the Scarlets who saw off Connacht 25-15 on Friday. Williams, making his first start in the RaboDirect PRO12, notched six penalties and a conversion to add to Johan Snyman's try for the Scarlets, who bounced back from a heavy defeat to Ulster last time out. Connacht meanwhile, paid the price for conceding too many penalties, handing Williams to chance to keep the scoreboard ticking over and guide Scarlets into fourth place and back into the play-offs.

Ian Keatley proved a more than adequate replacement for the absent Ronan O'Gara, kicking 20 points as Munster produced a clinical display against an ill-disciplined Edinburgh, winning 30-3. The young fly-half, who was part of Ireland's training squad ahead of the 2013 Six Nations, added to his growing reputation with a clinical kicking display to inflict an eighth straight defeat on Edinburgh.

Glasgow wing Byron McGuigan scored in either half as the Warriors defeated Zebre 36-20 to claim their fourth successive RaboDirect Pro12 win and move up to second. The 23-year-old touched down seven minutes into the first half and 16 into the second as Glasgow ground the Italian outfit down after the interval to record a bonus-point win.

McGuigan responded to Dries van Schalkwyk's early try as did Alex Dunbar to Tito Tebaldi's effort before a second from the wing and additional scores from James Eddie and Peter Murchie. Glasgow fly-half Scott Wight and Finn Russell converted two each, while the former also kicked a penalty, with Daniel Halangahu contributed ten points for winless Zebre.

RESULTS

CARDIFF BLUES 11 - 26 LEINSTER

Cardiff Arms Park - 8 February 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 3-23 Att: 5,783
Cardiff T: Tovey P: Patchell (2)
Leinster T: Boss, Murphy C: Madigan (2) P: Madigan (4) Denton

 

ULSTER RUGBY 12 - 16 OSPREYS

Ravenhill - 8 February 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 9-6 Att: 10,886
Ulster P: Pienaar (3), Olding
Ospreys T: Bevington C: Morgan P: Morgan (3)

 

DRAGONS 23 - 14 BENETTON TREVISO

Rodney Parade - 8 February 2013
KO: 19:30 HT: 6-14 Att: 4,212
Dragons T: Steffan Jones, Prydie C: Prydie (2) P: Steffan Jones, Prydie (2)
Treviso T: la Grange, Giusti C: di Bernardo (2) Loamanu

 

SCARLETS 25 - 15 CONNACHT

Parc y Scarlets - 8 February 2013
KO: 19:30 HT: 12-8 Att: 5,886
Scarlets T: Snyman C: Williams P: Williams (6)
Connacht T: Poolman, Swift C: Nikora DG: Parks

 

MUNSTER 33 - 10 EDINBURGH RUGBY

Musgrave Park - 9 February 2013
KO: 19:45 HT: 6-3 Att: 7,241
Munster T: Stander, Sherry C: Keatley P: Keatley (6) Botha
Edinburgh P: Francis

 

ZEBRE 20 - 36 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Stadio XXV Aprile - 10 February 2013
KO: 15:05 HT: 20-17 Att: 1,000
Zebre T: van Schalkwyk, Tebaldi C: Halangahu (2) P: Halangahu (2) Ferranini
Glasgow T: McGuigan (2), Dunbar, Eddie, Murchie C: Wight (2), Russell (2) P: Wight Morrison

 

 

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DAN BIGGAR notched all the points as Ospreys survived a considerable scare to down Zebre by the narrowest of margins and claim a 16-15 RaboDirect PRO12 victory at the Liberty Stadium. Ospreys, captained for the first time by prop Adam Jones, trailed 8-6 at half-time and while a Biggar penalty and his own converted try gave them what appeared to be a decisive lead, Zebre, still without a win in the RaboDirect PRO12, hit back immediately. Tito Tebaldi's try, to add to the score by the scrum-half he replaced, Alberto Chillon, gave the basement boys hope but try as they might, they could not edge back in front and Ospreys escaped with the four points.

Ulster got back into the winning mood after producing a stunning five-try display to run rampant and down formerly second-placed Scarlets 47-15 at Ravenhill. Scores from Robbie Diack, powerhouse No.8 Nick Williams, Andrew Trimble, Neil McComb and a penalty try as well as Ruan Pienaar's 16 points from the boot led the league leaders to a thoroughly deserved bonus-point win. Scarlets could only hit back through a 67th-minute try from Josh Turnbull and a last minute dive under the posts from replacement Scott Williams while George North was stretchered off to compound their woes.

Glasgow Warriors went second after capitalising on 14-man Benetton Treviso to run in five tries at Scotstoun and chalk up a 41-7 victory. Full-back Stuart Hogg was the star of the show with two tries while Tommy Seymour, DTH van der Merwe and replacement Nikola Matawalu also went over for the home side. Francesco Minto scored for the Italians in a brave display where they were always up against if from just the sixth minute when Manoa Vosawai was sent off.

Leinster recalled their big guns for this crunch clash with Edinburgh but it was the ever reliable Jonny Sexton who guided his side to a 31-16 victory at Murrayfield. Rob Kearney, Brian O'Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald all returned for Leinster in an all Irish XV but it was Sexton whose 16-point contribution proved decisive. For it was tries from Sexton, the impressive Gordon D'Arcy and replacement Ian Madigan, as well as a penalty try, handed Leinster the five points and moved Joe Schmidt's side up to third.

Fly-half Dan Parks kicked 15 points for Connacht as they secured a comfortable victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at the Sportsground. Parks kicked two early penalties, before the hosts were awarded a penalty try which the Scot converted to give them a 13-0 lead. George Naoupu added a second try, which Parks converted before Tom Prydie's penalty opened the scoring for the visitors just before the break. Danie Poolman went over early in the second period to all but wrap up the victory, despite a second Prydie penalty, with Parks also landing a difficult drop-goal. Jonathan Evans went over in the closing stages to salvage some pride for the Welsh region, but Connacht ran out easy winners.

Robin Copeland's solo second-half try ensured Cardiff Blues clung on to a shock 17-6 RaboDirect PRO12 away victory at Munster, spoiling Ronan O'Gara's record-breaking evening. After a rather uneventful first half it was the visitors who were far more assertive in the second period and they thoroughly deserved their fourth away victory in the RaboDirect PRO12 this year. The defeat puts a dent in Munster's play-off hopes and was just their second home league defeat of the season, marring O'Gara's all-time appearance record for the Irish region.

RESULTS

OSPREYS 16 - 15 ZEBRE

Liberty Stadium - 4 January 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 6-5 Att: 7,891
Ospreys T: Biggar C: Biggar P: Biggar (3)
Zebre T: Chillon, Tebaldi C: Halangahu P: Chillon van Schalkwyk

 

ULSTER 47 - 15 SCARLETS

Ravenhill - 4 January 2013
KO: 19:05 HT: 9-3 Att: 10,977
Ulster T: Diack, Williams, Trimble, PT, McComb C: Pienaar (2), Jackson (3) P: Pienaar (4)
Scarlets T: Turnbull, Warren C: Thomas P: Thomas Thomas

 

GLASGOW 41 - 7 BENETTON TREVISO

Scotstoun - 4 January 2013
KO: 19:30 HT: 27-0 Att: 3,605
Glasgow T: van der Merwe, Hogg (2), Seymour, Matawalu C: Jackson (3), Weir (2) P: Jackson (2)
Treviso T: Minto C: Burton Vosawai

 

EDINBURGH 16 - 31 LEINSTER

Murrayfield - 4 January 2013
KO: 19:35 HT: 6-17 Att: 3,821
Edinburgh T: Nel C: Francis P: Laidlaw (2) DG: Francis Denton
Leinster T: PT, D'Arcy, Sexton, Madigan C: Sexton (4) P: Sexton Heaslip

 

CONNACHT 30 - 11 DRAGONS

Sportsground - 5 January 2013
KO: 17:00 HT: 20-3 Att: 4,958
Connacht T: PT, Naoupu, Poolman C: Parks (3) P: Parks (2) DG: Parks
Dragons T: Evans P: Prydie (2)

 

MUNSTER 6 - 17 CARDIFF BLUES

Musgrave Park - 5 January 2013
KO: 19:30 HT:  3-3 Att: 8,874
Munster P: O'Gara (2)
Cardiff T: Williams, Copeland C: Patchell (2) P: Patchell

 

 

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FOUR penalties from Rhys Patchell were enough to give Cardiff Blues a vital 12-10 RaboDirect PRO12 win over Newport Gwent Dragons in a derby clash at the Arms Park. The Dragons managed the game's only try from Andy Tuilagi but were made to pay for their inability to turn pressure into points as the Blues moved up to seventh in the table. Despite the Dragons dominating the first half it was nine points from Patchell which put the Blues in front as the visitors failed to get points on the board.

The perfect start to the second half saw Tuilagi score the game's only try, and Wayne Evans add a conversion and a penalty to put his team in front, only for Patchell to slot his fourth penalty of the day. And despite near-total possession of the ball in the latter stages, the Dragons found the Blues' defensive wall, as well as the sodden conditions which saw both sides finish caked in mud, too big an obstacle to overcome.

Fly-half Dan Biggar did his international chances no harm at all as he kicked 14 points to help give Ospreys the local bragging rights in a bad-tempered RaboDirect PRO12 derby which saw the Scarlets end proceedings with 12 men on the field. Biggar is seemingly in the box seat to wear the No. 10 jersey for next year's Six Nations after Rhys Priestland was hit by an Achilles injury. And, with Priestland absent from the Scarlets line-up at the Liberty Stadium, Biggar further strengthened his cause with an impressive display in a 32-3 win.

The Ospreys had won their last five clashes with Welsh regions heading into the derby encounter and, thanks largely to their set-piece superiority, they did not look like doing so on Wednesday. But for some wasteful play in the final quarter, the Ospreys could have been celebrating a bonus-point win after Aled Thomas (yellow) and replacements Gareth Owen and Rob McCusker (both red) all fell foul of referee Nigel Owens late on. In the end the home side had a penalty score plus tries from James King and Kahn Fotuali'i - who also kicked a drop goal - to add to Biggar's haul with the boot.

Edoardo Gori and Leonardo Ghiraldini scored either side of half-time as Treviso made it back-to-back wins over Italian rivals Zebre with a 26-18 victory at Stadio di Monigo. Both sides scored two tries each but Zebre left it too late to make an impact - with Gori putting Treviso in control in the first half before captain Ghiraldini stretched the lead immediately after the break.

Kris Burton also put in an assured performance with the boot, finding the target with two drop goals, two penalties and two conversions as he finished the afternoon with a personal tally of 16. Late tries from full-back Paolo Buso and Giovanbattista Venditti proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Zebre narrowly missed out on a losing bonus point. The win makes it three on the bounce in the RaboDirect PRO12 for Treviso, the first time they have accomplished that feat since October 2011. It also sees them jump back above Cardiff Blues - who had defeated Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday - into seventh position in the league table.

Henry Pyrgos' try proved decisive as Glasgow Warriors saw off a late Edinburgh fightback to claim a 21-17 RaboDirect PRO12 victory and take the 1872 Cup. Michael Bradley's men went down 23-14 at Scotstoun last weekend and needed to win by at least ten points at Murrayfield to claim the trophy.

Sean Maitland went over for his first Warriors try early on with Edinburgh hitting back soon after through Greig Laidlaw's penalty. Laidlaw missed his next penalty before Ruaridh Jackson intercepted and burst forward to cross with two Pete Horne penalties making it 16-3 at the break. Soon after the break DTH van der Merwe saw his potential try ruled out by the TMO with his foot in touch but Pyrgos was ruled to have touched down in the 55th minute. Tries from Roddy Grant and Tim Visser, with Laidlaw converting both, got Edinburgh back in it but the Warriors held on for a 17-21 victory.

Munster inflicted a first league defeat of the season on RaboDirect PRO12 leaders Ulster with a convincing 24-10 victory at Thomond Park. The home side were in control throughout, restricting their Irish rivals to a handful of chances and outscoring them by three tries to one.

Fly-half Ian Keatley got Munster off to the perfect start with a penalty after just two minutes as rain made running rugby difficult for both sides. And tries from Peter O'Mahony, Simon Zebo and a penalty try gave them th edge.

Despite their best efforts, Ulster were unable to force their way back into the game until the final minute when replacement Alistair Birch grabbed his first senior try for the club. Replacement Stuart Olding added the extras to give the scoreline a respectable feel, but league leaders Ulster finally gave up their 100 per cent record in this year's tournament.

Leinster ended a run of three games without a win with a hard-fought 17-0 victory over Connacht at the RDS.

Despite the one-sided nature of the scoreline the European champions were made to work hard for the win, with Ian Madigan and Jack McGrath's tries late in either half proving decisive. Madigan added a further seven points with the boot as Leinster prevented Connacht from scoring - avenging the 34-6 defeat to their Irish rivals in September.

The win moves Leinster, who came into the match off the back of a 27-19 reverse to league-leaders Ulster and two Heineken Cup defeats to Clermont, above Ospreys into fifth in the standings.

Eli Walker and Ashley Beck tries were enough to keep Ospreys' RaboDirect PRO12 play-off charge on course with a 14-3 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons. Speedy wing Walker notched his third try of the campaign as early as the fourth minute as the reigning champions stormed out of the blocks, and they looked on course to seal their third consecutive league win with ease. Instead the visitors were made to work all the way by a dogged Dragons outfit, but despite their tenacity Beck's second-half effort resigned them to a sixth defeat in seven RaboDirect PRO12 games.

RESULTS

CARDIFF BLUES 12 - 10 DRAGONS

Cardiff Arms Park - 26 December 2012
KO: 14:05 HT: 9-0 Att: 10,243
Cardiff P: Patchell (4)
Dragons T: Tuilagi C: Wayne Evans P: Robling

 

OSPREYS 32 - 3 SCARLETS

Liberty Stadium - 26 December 2012
KO: 17:30 HT: 19-3 Att: 19,443
Ospreys T: PT, King, Fotuali’i C: Biggar P: Biggar (4) DG: Fotuali’i
Scarlets P: Thomas Earle, Knoyle, Thomas McCusker, Owen

 

BENETTON TREVISO 26 - 18 ZEBRE

Stadio di Monigo - 29 December 2012
KO: 15:00 HT: 19-6 Att: 5,000
Treviso T: Gori, Ghiraldini C: Burton (2) P: Burton (2) DG: Burton (2) Ghiraldini
Zebre T: Buso, Venditti C: Tebaldi P: Orquera, Garcia Bergamasco

 

EDINBURGH 17 - 21 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Murrayfield - 29 December 2012
KO: 16:05 HT: 3-16 Att: 11,225
Edinburgh T: Grant, Tim Visser C: Laidlaw (2) P: Laidlaw Jacobsen
Glasgow T: Maitland, Jackson, Pyrgos P: Horne (2) Horne

 

MUNSTER 24 - 10 ULSTER

Thomond Park - 29 December 2012
KO: 17:30 HT: 10-3 Att: 23,587
Munster T: PT, Zebo, O'Mahony C: Keatley (3) P: Keatley
Ulster T: Birch C: Olding P: Niall O'Connor Marshall

 

LEINSTER 17 - 0 CONNACHT

Royal Dublin Society - 29 December 2012
KO: 19:45 HT: 7-0 Att: 18,500
Leinster T: Madigan, McGrath C: Madigan (2) P: Madigan

 

DRAGONS 3 - 14 OSPREYS

Rodney Parade - 31 December 2012
KO: 16:15 HT: 3-7 Att: 7,018

 

 

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IN a tense Welsh derby Aled Thomas' boot saw Scarlets claim the bragging rights against Cardiff Blues with a 9-6 victory - their sixth successive win against the region.

Fly-half Thomas was not at his best, missing three kicks on a evening devoid of any real try-scoring chances, but held his nerve for the most part to sail over three attempts and secure the Scarlets' place behind Ulster in the RaboDirect PRO12 standings.

His opposite number Rhys Patchell did his best to keep the Blues within reach, but despite his two penalties they fell to their sixth defeat in seven games.

Ulster made it 11 wins from a possible 11 in the RaboDirect PRO12 as they bounced back in style from last week's first loss of the season with a 27-19 win over Leinster.

A week on from their 10-9 home defeat to Northampton, Ulster ran in three tries, through Nick Williams, Andrew Trimble and a penalty score.

In response Leinster managed a late try from Fergus McFadden, with Ian Madigan scoring the rest of their points but Ulster's dominance in the scrum proved the difference between the sides.

DTH van der Merwe's first-half double stopped Glasgow's recent RaboDirect PRO12 rot and condemned rivals Edinburgh to a morale-sapping 23-14 defeat at Scotstoun.

The Canadian wing took his league tally to seven tries with a devastating first-half display which also saw Rob Harley cross for the hosts - ending their four-game run of RaboDirect PRO12 defeats.

But despite their dominance in the opening 40 minutes Glasgow's nerves in the second period were clear to see with Edinburgh going over through Piers Francis.

Edinburgh, trailing 17-3 at half-time, did engineer a second-half fight-back, closing the gap to 6 points on two occasions, but the Warriors were not to be denied and Duncan Weir closed out the game with his trusty boot. Arguably, the only pity was that Glasgow did not garner the bonus point fourth try, especially after a period of pressure in the closing stages.

Alberto Di Bernardo's wayward goal-kicking didn't cost Treviso in the end as they inched past the Zebre 10-3 in Parma to claim the first-ever meeting between the two sides.

Fresh from their narrow loss to Leicester, Franco Smith's side were desperate to bounce back, and despite failing to take advantage of Zebre's indiscipline, a try from powerful centre, Christian Loamanu proved the difference between the two sides.

Defences had taken control in the opening half as the teams went in scoreless at the break, although Zebre will have been the happier of the two having seen both props, Salvatore Perugini and Carlo Fazzari sent to the sin bin. But despite a few threatening attacks, Treviso hung on, and even added another penalty through Di Bernardo.

Ian Keatley complimented his sparkling kicking display with a match-winning defensive showing as Munster held on for a much-deserved 16-12 inter-provincial victory over Connacht.

A 10-point swing in favour of the visitors, which included Connacht's Jason Harris-Wright being sent to the bin, during a crazy last 5 minutes of the first half proved crucial in this encounter.
Connacht had previously beaten Ulster, Harlequins, Leinster and Biarritz in Galway this year and were searching for a clean sweep of victories over Irish opposition in 2012.

But Munster went home the victors following a gritty derby clash at the rain-soaked Sportsground. It was an extremely disappointing finish for Eric Elwood’s side who have lost by the exact same 4-point margin on both of Munster’s last two visits to Galway.

RESULTS

CARDIFF BLUES 6 - 9 SCARLETS

Cardiff Arms Park - 21 December 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 3-9 Att: 9,872
Cardiff P: Patchell (2)
Scarlets P: Thomas (3)

 

ULSTER 29 - 19 LEINSTER

Ravenhill - 21 December 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 13-9 Att: 10,940
Ulster T: PT, Williams, Trimble C: Pienaar (3) P: Jackson, Pienaar Best
Leinster T: McFadden C: Madigan P: Madigan (4)

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS 23 - 14 EDINBURGH

Scotstoun - 21 December 2012
KO: 19:35 HT: 17-3 Att: 6,000
Glasgow T: van der Merwe (2), Harley C: Horne P: Weir (2)
Edinburgh T: Francis P: Laidlaw (3)

 

ZEBRE 3 - 10 BENETTON TREVISO

Stadio XXV Aprile - 22 December 2012
KO: 15:00 HT: 0-0 Att: 3,000
Zebre P: Orquera Salvatore Perugini, Carlo Fazzari
Treviso T: Loamanu C: di Bernardo P: di Bernardo

 

CONNACHT 12 - 16 MUNSTER

Sportsground - 22 December 2012
KO: 17:15 HT: 6-13 Att: 7,789
Connacht P: Parks (3) DG: Parks Harris-Wright
Munster T: PT C: Keatley P: Keatley (3) James Downey

 

 

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RESULTS

OSPREYS 33 - 12 CARDIFF BLUES

Liberty Stadium - 30 November 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 16-6 Att: 8,169
Ospreys T: King, Fussell, Allen C: Morgan (3) P: Morgan (4) Sam Lewis
Cardiff P: Sweeney (2), Patchell (2) Navidi

 

BENETTON TREVISO 32 - 13 DRAGONS

Stadio di Monigo - 1 December 2012
KO: 15:00 HT: 20-6 Att: 3,600
Treviso T: Gori, Laomanu (2), McLean, Botes C: di Bernardo P: di Bernardo
Dragons T: Prydie C: Prydie P: Prydie (2) Will Harries Will Harries

 

CONNACHT 23 - 24 EDINBURGH

Sportsground - 1 December 2012
KO: 17:00 HT: 13-17 Att: 4,930
Connacht T: Harris-Wright, Poolman C: Parks (2) P: Parks (3)
Edinburgh T: Visser, Scott, McInally C: Laidlaw (3) P: Laidlaw

 

LEINSTER 37 - 7 ZEBRE

Royal Dublin Society - 1 December 2012
KO: 18:00 HT: 17-0 Att: 15,894
Leinster T: Conway, Sexton, McFadden (2), Healy C: Sexton (2), McFadden P: Sexton, McFadden
Zebre T: Tebaldi C: Halangahu Geldenhuys

 

MUNSTER 31 - 3 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Thomond Park Stadium - 1 December 2012
KO: 19:45 HT: 24-3 Att: 15,138
Munster T: Stander (2), O’Donnell, PT C: O’Gara (4) P: O’Gara
Glasgow P: Weir

 

SCARLETS 12 - 19 ULSTER

Parc y Scarlets - 2 December 2012
KO: 16:00 HT: 3-13 Att: 7,089
Scarlets P: Thomas (4)
Ulster T: Trimble C: Jackson P: Jackson (4) Dan Tuohy

 

 

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TOM PRYDIE's trusty boot kicked Newport Gwent Dragons to a 14-3 victory over Connacht in the RaboDirect PRO12 and brought their miserable run of seven defeats in a row in all competitions to an end.

In a game played in difficult conditions after torrential rain the previous day, Prydie's boot proved pivotal as he notched 9 personal points while centre Pat Leach scored the game's only try after Connacht had been temporarily reduced to 13 men.

For Connacht, their poor form on the road continued and despite a bright start, Eric Elwood's men saw their high penalty count cost them dearly, ensuring they have now lost three in a row on their travels in the RaboDirect PRO12, and failed to reach double figures in each.

Ulster got out of jail for the second weekend in a row in Italy as they edged a 16-15 win against Benetton Treviso that keeps their unbeaten start to the season alive.

Mark Anscombe's troops have now played nine won nine in the league but they rode their luck at the Stadio Monigo on a misty Friday night.

Peter Nelson's first-half try on his first start for the club proved vital with Niall O'Connor adding three penalties but Treviso fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo will have nightmares about his last-gasp penalty that he pulled wide with the Italians on the verge of a famous victory.

Last weekend against Zebre, Ulster needed a late penalty try to win and they were somewhat fortunate here as well as the Italians slipped to their fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions despite scoring two tries through Brendan Williams and Ludovico Nitoglia.

Edinburgh got back to winning ways with a 23-13 success over the Ospreys at Murrayfield thanks to some great kicking from Gregor Hunter.

Their last RaboDirect PRO12 victory came back on September 14 against Zebre but a dominant second-half display allowed Edinburgh to emerge victorious at Murrayfield.

Rediscovering their offloading game, Michael Bradley's men could and probably should have scored more than just WP Nel's try but were well-worth their win thanks to fly-half Hunter who finished with 18 points on the night.

Two penalties from Ian Madigan were enough for Leinster to edge past Glasgow Warriors 6-0 at a soaked Scotstoun.

The Warriors came into the game having won their last six RaboDirect PRO12 games but were kept scoreless by a defiant Leinster defence.

In truth though, it was the conditions which won out, with neither team able to put in place sustained periods of attack.

Both sides welcomed back talismanic players, with Sean O'Brien starting at No.8 for Joe Schmidt's side and DTH van der Merwe on the wing for the Warriors.

However with the sodden conditions it was not the ideal environment for either O'Brien's trademark charges or van der Merwe pacy breaks. Instead it was a real arm wrestle up front but despite edging the second half, Glasgow struggled to make the most of their possession.

Ceri Sweeney's boot proved the difference as he kicked 9 second-half points to secure a 14-7 win at Zebre to halt Cardiff Blue's slide which had seen them lose their last four RaboDirect PRO12 matches.

The Italians are still searching for their first ever-win in the competition despite a brave performance after taking a 7-0 lead through Samuele Pace's try midway through the first half.

Prop Nathan Trevett scored his first try for Blues to drag them back into the game as the Welsh side moved up to seventh in the league with the win, leaving Zebre bottom with 4 points to their name.

And Sweeney was the main difference as he kicked three all-important penalties as Cardiff turned the screw and kept on the pressure in the second half.

Andy Fenby's late try secured Scarlets' first-ever win at Musgrave Park and a first RaboDirect PRO12 win over Munster for five years.

With just ten minutes remaining Scarlets held a narrow 6-3 lead, Aled Thomas kicking two penalties while Ian Keatley could only manage one in reply for the hosts.

But Munster full-back Felix Jones fumbled the ball over his own try line and wing Fenby was quick to pounce on it to give the visitors some much-needed breathing space.

This was Scarlets' seventh win in their last nine RaboDirect PRO12 games, but none would have been more celebrated than this one, their first victory over Munster in 16 attempts.

RESULTS

DRAGONS 14 - 3 CONNACHT

Rodney Parade - 23 November 2012
KO: 19:00 HT: 8-3 Att: 4,168
Dragons T: Leach P: Brown, Prydie (2) Lewis Evans
Connacht P: Parks Harris-Wright, Browne

 

BENETTON TREVISO 15 - 16 ULSTER

Stadio di Monigo - 23 November 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 15-10 Att: 3,500
Treviso T: Williams, Nitoglia C: di Bernardo P: di Bernardo
Ulster T: Nelson C: O'Connor P: O'Connor (3)

 

EDINBURGH 23 - 13 OSPREYS

Murrayfield - 23 November 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 8-13 Att: 3,128
Edinburgh T: Nel P: Hunter (6)
Ospreys T: Morgan C: Morgan P: Morgan (2) Williams, Lewis

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS 0 - 6 LEINSTER

Scotstoun - 23 November 2012
KO: 19:35 HT: 0-3 Att: tba
Glasgow Ryder, Fusaro
Leinster P: Madigan (2) Madigan

 

ZEBRE 7 - 14 CARDIFF BLUES

Stadio XXV Aprile - 25 November 2012
KO: 15:00 HT: 7-5 Att: 700
Zebre T: Pace C: Halangahu
Cardiff T: Trevett P: Sweeney Copeland

 

MUNSTER 6 - 13 SCARLETS

Musgrave Park - 25 November 2012
KO: 17:15 HT: 3-3 Att: 6,129
Munster P: Keatley, Hanrahan
Scarlets T: Fenby C: Aled Thomas P: Aled Thomas

 

 

---

ZEBRE 25 - 27 ULSTER

Stadio XXV Aprile - 18 November 2012
KO: 15:00 HT: 8-9 Att: 2,550

ULSTER needed a late penalty try to maintain their perfect start to the RaboDirect PRO12 season and deny the Zebre a first win in a 27-25 success in Italy.

The Italians scored four tries earning two bonus points but their struggling scrum cost them in the end after Paddy Wallace had scored Ulster's first try.

South African Dries van Schalkwyk went over twice for the Italian team who will be devastated having come within inches of a win for the second game in succession.

Ulster had taken an early lead with a Niall O'Connor penalty but the Italians hit back almost immediately. From the restart scrum-half Tito Tebaldi went over, continuing his good recent form to put the home side in front.

Missing a lot of their Irish internationals Ulster needed to settle quickly and they bounced back well from conceding the early try with two penalties from O'Connor as they edged the battle at the breakdown. However while Ulster were doing well at slowing up Zebre ball, their failure to claim restarts was proving costly. Zebre got themselves back to within a point on the stroke of half-time with Daniel Halangahu's penalty, and the Australian went one better after the break when he went over for the Italians' second try to make it 13-9 to the home side.

O'Connor pulled three points back for the league leaders but van Schalkwyk then went over for his first try to stretch Zebre's lead to 18-12 after 54 minutes.

Mark Anscombe's men needed a reaction and got it when Wallace went over after good work by Jared Payne. After some good continuity from Ulster Payne's flat pass created an overlap and quick hands saw Wallace go over on the right hand side. O'Connor missed the chance to put the visitors in front with the conversion but after Matteo Pratichetti had been sent to the sin bin for failing to roll away, the Ulster fly-half made no mistake to put his side 20-18 up.

After Ulster scrum-half Michael Heaney was forced to carry the ball over his own line van Schalkwyk charged off the back of a retreating Zebre scrum and with no tackler in sight he strolled over for his second try. Halangahu's conversion made it 25-20 to the home side.

However the Ulster pack was dominant at the scrum and when they got a five-metre scrum with five minutes left they inevitably earned a penalty try as the Zebre eight buckled, O'Connor's conversion putting his side two points up.

Zebre threw everything they could at Ulster in the closing stages but struggled to get themselves in position for a late drop goal and penalty and eventually fell short.

Zebre T: Tibaldi, Halangahu, van Schalkwyk (2) C: Halangahu P: Halangahu Pratichetti

Ulster T: Wallace, PT C: O'Connor P: O'Connor (5)

 

 

---

CASEY LAULALA returned to haunt his former club as his last-gasp try got Munster out of jail and compounded Cardiff Blues' misery, handing the visitors a 24-18 victory in the RaboDirect PRO12.

An opportunist try from scrum-half Lewis Jones had appeared to lift the gloom at the Arms Park, giving them an 18-17 lead they held until the 78th minute, but some suspect defending from the hosts opened the door for Munster.

In an error-strewn match it was Jones who pounced on the loose ball after Lou Reed had charged down Peter Stringer's kick, leaving the Blues clinging on in a nervy final 15 minutes - and they couldn't quite make it over the line, meaning they have now lost their last six matches in all competitions.

Ruan Pienaar led Ulster to a 45-20 victory over Edinburgh at Ravenhill to make it seven league wins on the spin - but it came at a cost with an injury to the returning Stephen Ferris.

South African Pienaar kicked six conversions as well as scoring a try himself, with Jared Payne going over twice, Roger Wilson and Craig Gilroy scoring one apiece.

However, the win was overshadowed by the sight of Ferris hobbling off in the second half in what was his first game in a month, a worrying sight for Ireland coach Declan Kidney with the autumn internationals looming large; it was later confirmed Ireland had lost Ferris for the Guinness Series. 

Edinburgh began well and late Ulster tries added gloss to the scoreline, Tom Brown scoring two tries for the visitors and Gregor Hunter kicking ten points.

Ulster went into the game unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions, while Edinburgh were hoping to end a run of six consecutive defeats with Ulster losing 12 men to the international break.

Tommy Seymour crossed twice to make it four tries in two games as Glasgow Warriors sealed a club record-equalling sixth straight RaboDirect PRO12 victory with a 37-6 bonus-point win over Newport Gwent Dragons.

First-half tries from Peter Murchie and Gordon Reid put the Warriors in charge but two Tom Prydie penalties kept the Dragons clinging on with the scores 20-6 at the interval.

Tom Ryder touched down soon after the restart to extend the Warriors' lead and man of the match, Niko Matawalu set up Seymour to go over in the corner for the bonus point just past the hour.

A successful chip and chase gave Seymour his second try with Scott Wight converting for a 37-6 lead, taking his personal haul to 12 points for the night with three conversions and two penalties, condemning the Dragons to a third defeat on the bounce.

Danie Poolman scored a try on his home debut as Connacht recorded their third victory of the season with an 18-3 win over Treviso in treacherous conditions at The Sportsground.

The 23-year-old South African crossed in the first half of a match played out in heavy rain, with Connacht's victory secured by replacement Gavin Duffy in the closing stages - their first league win in three matches.

Dan Parks finished the evening with a personal haul of eight points and pulled the strings in the first half as Connacht jumped above Treviso and Edinburgh into eighth in the standings.

It was a tight match until Duffy's late try - the weather contributing to a high error count for both sides, with try-scoring chances at a premium.

Treviso were limited to just a solitary Alberto Di Bernardo penalty in the second half - their seventh successive loss to an Irish side.

Eli Walker backed up last weekend's man-of-the-match showing against Connacht with a decisive second-half try, inspired by Richard Fussell, as Ospreys came from behind to beat Leinster 19-10.

Shane Williams' successor in the region's No. 11 jersey was well placed as Fussell, running from deep in his own half, evaded the Leinster defence before setting up the 20-year-old for an easy score.

Consistent kicking in tricky conditions from fly-half Matthew Morgan backed up Walker's effort to ensure the hosts secured their fifth consecutive league victory, moving them up to fifth.

RESULTS

CARDIFF BLUES 18 - 24 MUNSTER

Cardiff Arms Park - 2 November 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 3-10 Att: 8,064
Cardiff T: Hewitt, Jones C: Sweeney P: Tovey, Sweeney
Munster T: O'Donnell (2), Laulala C: O'Gara (3)  P: O'Gara O'Gara

 

ULSTER 45 - 20 EDINBURGH

Ravenhill - 2 November 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 24-14 Att: 11,078
Edinburgh T: PT, Payne (2), Pienaar, Wilson, Gilroy C : Pienaar (6) P: O'Connor
Ulster T: Brown (2) C: Hunter (2) P: Hunter (2)

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS 37 - 6 DRAGONS

Scotstoun - 2 November 2012
KO: 19:30 HT: 20-6 Att: 3,317
Glasgow T: Murchie, Reid, Ryder, Seymour C: Wight (4) P: Wight (2) Swinson
Dragons P: Prydie (2)

 

CONNACHT 18 - 3 BENETTON TREVISO

Sportsground - 3 November 2012
KO: 17:00 HT: 13-0 Att: 4,112
Connacht T: Poolman, Duffy C: Parks P: Parks (2)
Treviso P: di Bernardo

 

SCARLETS 22 - 13 ZEBRE

Parc y Scarlets - 3 November 2012
KO: 18:30 HT: 3-6 Att: 5,757
Scarlets T: Phillips C: Thomas P: Thomas (5) Owen
Zebre T: Pratichetti C: Halangahu P: Halangahu (2) Tebaldi, Ferrarini

 

OSPREYS 19 - 10 LEINSTER

Liberty Stadium - 4 November 2012
KO: 16:00 HT: 9-10 Att: tba
Ospreys T: Walker C: Morgan P: Morgan (3) DG: Morgan Duncan Jones
Leinster T: Auva'a C: Madigan P: Madigan

 

 

---

ULSTER consolidated their place at the top of the table with an eighth straight win this season as they won 46-19 away to the Dragons, still with a game in hand.

Mark Anscombe's side came into the game having won all five of their RaboDirect PRO12 matches, as well as both European clashes in the last fortnight, and despite a tight first half they proved too powerful at Rodney Parade.

Tom Court, Nick Williams, Ruan Pienaar and Darren Cave went over to secure the bonus point before the hour mark, with Andrew Trimble and Jared Payne adding further scores.

In response the Dragons went over through Andy Tuilagi but once Ulster got away the home side had no answer.

Rhys Priestland's late penalty gave Scarlets a narrow 29-28 victory over Edinburgh, who came within seconds of securing their first RaboDirect PRO12 victory in four games on Friday.

Two tries from Welsh wing George North and one each from Nick Reynolds and Gareth Davies secured the bonus point within 40 minutes but Tim Visser's first-half effort and Leonard's persistence kept them on their toes.

Fly-half Harry Leonard, who finished with a 23-point haul, kept the hosts in the game despite some poor defence but it was his opposite number who had the last laugh.

Wales international Priestland, who came off the bench on 55 minutes, slotted home a 78th-minute penalty to secure maximum points for the visitors who had notched four tries by half-time.

JJ Hanrahan grabbed two tries on his full RaboDirect PRO12 debut as Munster put in a dominant second-half display for a 29-3 bonus-point win over Zebre at Thomond Park.

A penalty apiece in the first half left the scores 3-3 at the break but Hanrahan went over shortly after the interval before Felix Jones burst through for Munster's second try ten minutes later.

Hanrahan then latched on to Ian Keatley's smart dink to cross in the 67th minute and Luke O'Dea added a late fourth for the bonus point, but Keatley failed to add the extras for the first time in the match.

Kahn Fotuali'i's try 8 minutes from time sealed a perfect response to European disappointment for the Ospreys as they beat Connacht 26-9.

Having fallen to a bonus-point defeat to Leicester a week ago at Welford Road, the Ospreys needed a reaction in the RaboDirect PRO12, and that's exactly what they got at the Liberty Stadium.

Against a Connacht side who were determined not to simply make up the numbers, the Welsh side were largely kept at bay in the first half. However after first-half scores from Eli Walker and Justin Tipuric had helped them to a 12-6 half-time lead, they took control in the second half.

Jonathan Thomas' try immediately after the break helped the Ospreys move decisively clear and then, as they looked like they might miss out on the maximum points, Fotuali'i went over for the fourth try.

Leinster's nine try victory made it five home wins on the bounce against Cardiff Blues - but it was not all celebrations at the RDS with Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll picking up an ankle injury.

Eight different try scorers crossed the line for Leinster, their 11th successive league win at the RDS.

Such was the dominance enjoyed by Joe Schmidt's men, they had the bonus point wrapped up after just 25 minutes - Richardt Strauss, Ian Madigan, Jamie Heaslip and Dave Kearney crossing in a devastating opening spell.

Heaslip added another, with Cian Healy, Jordi Murphy, Damian Browne and Fionn Carr all adding their names to the scoresheet on a clinical evening in Dublin.

The only sour point of the victory for Leinster was the ankle injury to O'Driscoll, which forced him off the field after 22 minutes.

Cardiff rallied in the second half with Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny and Tom James crossing, but it was not enough to avoid a fourth successive league defeat.

Tommy Seymour celebrated his call-up to the Scottish national squad with two tries as Glasgow Warriors ran out 24-13 winners over Benetton Treviso 24-13 at a rain-sodden Stadio di Monigo.

Penalties were rife on both sides, and Manu Vosawai landed the first try of the game from good setpiece for the homeside.

But 24-year-old Seymour struck twice in the second half to earn Glasgow a fifth consecutive victory in the RaboDirect Pro12, though the Warriors had to dig deep in a tight game after trailing 13-12 with 16 minutes remaining.

From a scrum deep in the Italian's 22, Seymour gleefully nipped in to prod the ball over the line and dive on it, with the try awarded by the TMO after it appeared to cross the dead-ball line. Wight added the extras to make it 19-13 with 14 minutes remaining.  Seymour to score his second of the night unopposed from close range with the officials missing an apparent knock-on in the build-up.

RESULTS

DRAGONS 19 - 46 ULSTER

Rodney Parade - 26 October 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 16-19 Att: 5,057
Dragons T: Tuilagi C: Prydie P: Prydie (4)
Ulster T: Court, Williams, Pienaar, Cave, Trimble, Payne C: Pienaar (5) P: Pienaar (2)

 

EDINBURGH 28 - 29 SCARLETS

Murrayfield - 26 October 2012
KO: 19:35 HT: 19-26 Att: 3,754
Edinburgh T: Visser C: Leonard P: Leonard (7)
Scarlets T: North (2), Reynolds, Gareth Davies C: Thomas (3) P: Priestland Gareth Davies

 

MUNSTER 29 - 3 ZEBRE

Thomond Park Stadium - 26 October 2012
KO: 19:45 HT: 3-3 Att: 14,738
Munster T: Hanrahan (2), Jones, O'Dea C: Keatley (3) P: Keatley
Zebre P: Halagahu

 

OSPREYS 26 - 9 CONNACHT

Liberty Stadium - 27 October 2012
KO: 14:30 HT: 12-6 Att: 8,231
Ospreys T: Walker, Tipuric, Thomas, Fotuali'i C: Biggar (3)
Connacht P: Parks (3)

 

LEINSTER 59 - 22 CARDIFF BLUES

Royal Dublin Society - 27 October 2012
KO: 18:30 HT:40-3 Att: 17,236
Leinster T: Strauss, Madigan, Heaslip (2), Kearney, Healy, Murphy, Browne, Carr C: Sexton (7)
Cardiff T: Cuthbert, Halfpenny, James C: Halfpenny (2) P: Halfpenny

 

BENETTON TREVISO 13 - 24 GLASGOW

Stadio di Monigo - 27 October 2012
KO: 19:05 HT:10-6 Att: 3,000
Treviso T: Vosawai C: Burton P: Burton, Botes
Glasgow T: Seymour C: Wight P: Jackson (3), Wight

 

 

---

MORGAN STODDART celebrated his long-awaited return from injury with the final try as the Scarlets returned to winning ways in the RaboDirect PRO12 with a 24-13 win against the Dragons.

A controversial first-half try from Gareth Maule in addition to three Aled Thomas penalties had put the home side comfortably in the driving seat at 16-3 at the interval.

But the Dragons refused to lie down and a converted score from winger Adam Hughes in addition to a Tom Prydie penalty reduced their arrears to 16-13.

Stoddart, making his first return to competitive action following a near 14-month injury layoff, slid over in the left-hand corner late on to seal the win and put an end to Dragons' second half-fight back, and a final penalty from Priestland allowed the Scarlets to cruise home.

Luke Marshall's fantastic late try put the icing on the cake for Ulster as they continued their perfect start with a 25-0 win over Connacht.

Marshall's late score finished off a scintillating team move that started on their own tryline on a night dedicated to the late Nevin Spence as the Ulstermen returned to Ravenhill for the first time since his tragic death.

A first-half try from man-of-the-match Nick Williams in addition to a penalty try from Ulster's dominant scrum as well as ten points from the boot of Paddy Jackson was more than enough to seal a clinical victory.

Connacht were coming into the clash hot on the heels of a dominant 34-6 win over Leinster last time out but have not won at Ravenhill since 1960.

Dan Biggar's 24-point haul maintained the Ospreys' charge at the expense of lowly Zebre on Friday.

After getting their defence of the title off to a nightmare start with three consecutive losses, the Welsh side have formed a recovery and this confident performance ensured their third successive victory. Their hosts, meanwhile, remain winless in five attempts but had Luca Redolfini's second-half try to show for their efforts.

Wales international Biggar, though, was at his imperious best with the boot for Steve Tandy's troops, who welcomed back Wales prop Adam Jones for his first RaboDirect PRO12 start of the season.

Biggar also added a second-half try to Richard Fussell and Jonathan Thomas efforts in the first half.

Robert Barbieri's double ensured Treviso's travel woes were extinguished as Edinburgh suffered their first-ever RaboDirect PRO12 home defeat to an Italian side on Friday.

The Italian international flanker took his season tally to six tries with efforts either side of half-time as the Stadio di Monigo outfit picked up only their second away victory since December 2011. Six of the Treviso line-up, including Barbieri, played for Italy in March's 13-6 Six Nations reversal that handed Scotland the wooden spoon and it was a similar story at Murrayfield.

Edinburgh, who saw Tim Visser, Lee Jones and Dougie Fife go over to secure a losing bonus point, have now lost their last three RaboDirect PRO12 games and were under pressure for most of this contest.

Peter Horne scored all 18 points as Glasgow Warriors secured their fourth straight win at the expense of Cardiff Blues.

Horne, whose late penalty secured victory over Zebre last week, was imperious once again with the boot - finding target with six of his seven attempts.

The Warriors pack controlled the set-piece throughout the game at Cardiff Arms Park and the Blues were restricted to a solitary Leigh Halfpenny penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Despite losing Dougie Hall to the sin-bin in the final quarter, the Warriors never looked like buckling under pressure.

Brian O'Driscoll's try proved to be the difference as Leinster got back to winning ways by holding on for a 30-21 win against a battling Munster.

A blistering opening half hour saw three tries and five lead changes, Richardt Strauss taking first blood when he touched down after nine minutes before an almost immediate reply from Munster with Peter O'Mahony scoring in the corner.

Ian Madigan grabbed Leinster's second try, converted by Jonathan Sexton, who added a penalty for a 20-11 lead before Ronan O'Gara replied with three points of his own before half-time.

Another Sexton penalty and O'Driscoll's try, confirmed by the TMO, appeared to have put the contest to bed with Sexton converting to make it 30-14 after 56 minutes.

But Conor Murray scored an opportunistic try in the left-hand corner which was converted by substitute kicker Ian Keatley as Munster put the pressure on, though Leinster held firm for the final 13 minutes.

RESULTS

SCARLETS 24 - 13 DRAGONS

Parc y Scarlets - 5 October 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 16-3 Att: 7,863
Scarlets T: Maule, Stoddart C: Thomas P: Thomas (3), Priestland
Dragons T: Hughes C: Prydie P: Steffan Jones, Prydie Jonathan Evans

 

ULSTER 25 - 0 CONNACHT

Ravenhill - 5 October 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 17-0 Att: 10,052
Ulster T:  PT, Williams, Luke Marshall C: Jackson (2) P: Jackson (2)
Connacht Gannon

 

ZEBRE 16 - 34 OSPREYS

Stadio XXV Aprile - 5 October 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 6-21 Att: 2,500
Zebre T: Redolfini C: Halangahu P: Garcia, Halangahu (2) Pratichetti, Chillon
Ospreys T: Fussell, Thomas, Biggar C: Biggar (2) P: Biggar (5)

 

EDINBURGH 22 - 27 BENETTON TREVISO

Murrayfield - 5 October 2012
KO: 19:30 HT: 10-17 Att: 4,079
Edinburgh T: Visser, Jones, Fife C: Laidlaw (3) P: Laidlaw Nel
Treviso T: PT, Barbieri (2) C: di Bernardo (3) P: di Bernardo (2) de Marchi

 

CARDIFF BLUES 3 - 18 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Cardiff Arms Park - 6 October 2012
KO: 18:30 HT: 3-12 Att: tba
Cardiff P: Halfpenny
Glasgow P: Horne (6) Hall

 

LEINSTER 30 - 21 MUNSTER

AVIVA Stadium - 6 October 2012
KO: 18:30 HT: 20-14 Att: tba
Leinster T: Strauss, Madigan, O'Driscoll C: Sexton (3) P: Sexton (3)
Munster T: O'Mahony, Murray C: Keatley P: O'Gara (3) Varley

 

 

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TOM PRYDIE won the battle of the fledgling kickers with an 18-point haul to help Newport Gwent Dragons maintain their excellent record over Edinburgh in the RaboDirect PRO12 with a 32-12 victory.

The 20-year-old fired over six penalties on a still Rodney Parade evening on Friday to defy Dragons' early season form which had garnered just one win.

On the downside, Wales back rower Dan Lydiate was taken off after just 2 minutes with a broken ankle which will see him sit out at least the Autumn Internationals if not the Six Nations as well.

In the opposition ranks Harry Leonard, who replaced Greig Laidlaw at fly-half for the Scottish side, missed three out of his four kicks but in truth the powerful hosts were too good.

Ulster paid the perfect tribute to Nevin Spence as they recorded a bonus-point 48-19 success over Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park to make it four wins from four this season and move top of the table.

Spence passed away in tragic circumstances with his brother Graham and father Noel a fortnight ago and the game was preceded by an immaculately observed minute's silence.

However the match also marked Tommy Bowe's return in Ulster colours and the Irish international winger came back with a bang, scoring two tries, to add to a double from the rampaging Nick Williams.

Mike Allen, Jared Payne and Andrew Trimble also crossed for the visitors, with Paddy Jackson adding 13 points with the boot while the Blues could only manage one try through winger Harry Robinson.

Pete Horne kicked a late penalty to sink Zebre as Glasgow Warriors scraped to a 22-19 victory in a game that saw both DTH Van der Merwe and Moray Low suffer injuries.

Zebre were searching for their first win since coming into existence this summer but in the end had to settle for a losing bonus point after Daniel Halangahu's late missed penalty.

Connacht ran in five tries for a shock 34-6 bonus-point humbling of Heineken Cup champions Leinster at the Sportsground for only their second win of the season.

Leinster's first all-Irish clash of the season ended their three-match winning streak and ends the European champions' run of six straight league victories over Irish opposition.

Connacht dominated proceedings in the first half and were worthy of their 22-6 half-time lead as David McSharry, Fetu'u Vainikolo and Tiernan O'Halloran all went over for the Galway side.

The second half was more even as Leinster showed some resolve but two late tries from forwards George Naoupu and Ronan Loughney put some gloss on the scoreline.

Reigning champions Ospreys ran in three tries to record a well-deserved second win of the season against an undisciplined Munster side at Liberty Stadium.

Richard Fussell's first-half try had got the home team underway before Richard Hibbard added a rare try in the closing stages, while Dan Biggar added 15 points with the boot.

Munster lost Tommy O'Donnell to the bin just after half-time, during which time Ospreys scored a decisive penalty try, before Damien Varley was red carded for a kick five minutes from time. All the visitors could muster was four paltry penalties, though they did manage to hold off the Ospreys from securing a bonus point.

Alberto Di Bernardo showed the required nerves of steel to kick a last-minute 50-metre penalty to beat Scarlets 22-20 and record Treviso's second win of the season.

Treviso had seemed dead and buried just after half-time when Scarlets outside-half Rhys Priestland slotted a regulation penalty to put his side 20-5 up. But back came the Biancoverde with a passion not seen anywhere in the first half.

First replacement scrum-half Fabio Semenzato went over from a yard out and then full-back Brendan Williams crashed over before Di Bernardo's moment came for a Scarlets infringement after time was up.

RESULTS

DRAGONS 32 - 12 EDINBURGH

Rodney Parade - 28 September 2012
KO: 19:00 HT: 17-7 Att: tba
Dragons T: Price P: Prydie (6) DG: Jones (3) S Jones
Edinburgh T: Brown, Visser C: Leonard Cox, Rennie

 

CARDIFF BLUES 19 - 48 ULSTER

Cardiff Arms Park - 28 September 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 9-17 Att: tba
Cardiff T: Robinson C: Davies P: Tovey (3), Davies
Ulster T: Allen, Williams, Bowe, Payne, Trimble C: Jackson (5) P: Jackson

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS 22 - 19 ZEBRE

Scotstoun - 28 September 2012
KO: 19:35 HT: 19-6 Att: tba
Glasgow T: Swinson, Van der Merwe, Morrison C: Jackson (2) P: Horne
Zebre T: Orquera C: Orquera P: Orquera (3), Garcia Cristiano, Bergamasco

 

CONNACHT 34 - 6 LEINSTER

Sportsground - 28 September 2012
KO: 20:00 HT: 22-6 Att: tba
Connacht T: McSharry, Vainikolo, O'Halloran, Naoupu, Loughney C: Parks (2), Nikora P: Parks O'Halloran
Leinster P: Madigan (2) Macken, Auva'a

 

OSPREYS 30 - 15 MUNSTER

Liberty Stadium - 29 September 2012
KO: 18:30 HT: 13-6 Att: tba
Ospreys T: Fussell, Penalty Try, Hibbard C: Biggar (3) P: Biggar (3)
Munster P: O'Gara (4), Keatley O'Donnell RC Varley

 

BENETTON TREVISO 22 - 20 SCARLETS

Stadio di Monigo - 29 September 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 5-17 Att: tba
Treviso T: Ghiraldini, Semenzato, Barbieri C: di Bernardo (2) P: di Bernardo
Scarlets T: Fenby (2) C: Priestland (2) P: Priestland DG: Priestland McCusker

 

 

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ALL RaboDirect PRO12 games were preceded this weekend by a minute's silence for the tragic passing off Ulster’s Nevin Spence along with his brother Graham and father Noel who all passed away in a tragic farming accident last Saturday. The Zebre match against Ulster was postponed as a mark of respect, and will be rescheduled at a later date.

 

 

Late tries from Ryan Jones and Hanno Dirksen gave the Ospreys their first win of the season as the Scarlets were made to rue Rhys Priestland's poor kicking in a 23-16 defeat at Parc y Scarlets.

The Scarlets had won three out of three coming into the game despite Priestland's struggles from the kicking tee but in a ferocious derby they were made to pay for his inaccuracy. Where the Scarlets came into the match in scintillating form, the Ospreys had endured a nightmare start to the campaign and lay second bottom of the table.

However a Welsh derby was always going to bring the best out of the visitors and thanks to the efforts of second-half replacement Jones, who went over off the back of maul, and Dirksen, they finally got that first win under their belts.

Flying wing DTH van der Merwe was at the double for Glasgow Warriors as they recorded their first ever RaboDirect PRO12 victory at Scotstoun by beating Connacht 27-17. The Canadian crossed twice in the second half to add to efforts from Sean Lamont and Peter Murchie and hand Warriors a try bonus point in the process.

Connacht scored a try in either half from wing Mark McCrea and prop Nathan White but were always chasing their hosts who were after their maiden home win since moving from Firhill.

Brendan Macken's two-try double helped Leinster overcome a stubborn Edinburgh side 22-16 to move into the top four. The young centre started the game on the bench but after replacing the injured Gordon D'Arcy midway through the first half he made quite an impact, scoring twice in the space of ten second-half minutes to give Leinster a decisive lead.

The Irish side came into the game on the back of two successive RaboDirect PRO12 victories over the Dragons and Treviso. In Italy a week ago it was Jonny Sexton who needed a late drop goal to hand the European champions the win and the Ireland fly-half took that form into this clash at the RDS with an early try.

Greig Laidlaw kept the visitors in touch but despite a late try from WP Nel, Michael Bradley's team were forced to settle for a losing bonus point.

Jamie Roberts made a winning return to the Cardiff Blues starting line up with a try in his side's 34-18 win over Treviso. Making his first league start having fully recovered from knee surgery, Roberts touched down for his first try for the Blues since 2010 in a first half the home side dominated at the Cardiff Arms Park as the homeside returned down the tunnel 17-3 up.

The visitors managed to keep the Blues to just a penalty in the second half after Roberto Barbieri was sent to the bin, but the No.8 made amends by notching up two tries, though it was not enough to catch up to the Welsh side 9 points clear. And with time up replacement Campese Ma'afu went over for the Blues' bonus point try to seal their first win since their permanent return to the Cardiff Arms Park.

Simon Zebo provided the star quality as an under-construction Munster side dismantled the Newport Gwent Dragons 33-13 at Thomond Park. Both sides came into the game having tasted defeat in the last round and consequently both head coaches had named much-changed sides.

Zebo scored one try and created two others for Ian Keatley and Niall Ronan while Conor Murray and Tommy O'Donnell also crossed for the Munstermen who have now won three of their four opening fixtures. The Dragons only found their way over the line once in the shape of full-back Dan Evans but his back-three partner Tom Prydie suffered a bad day with the boot, hitting just one of his three attempts before Lewis Robling took over his duties.

Following a respectful 14-6 lead at half time, Munster streaked ahead 26-6 with the final quarter remaining. The Dragons pulled a try back through Evans just after the hour mark but any thoughts of a comeback were dispelled when replacement O'Donnell crossed six minutes from time, O'Gara converting to complete the convincing win.

RESULTS

SCARLETS 16 - 23 OSPREYS

Parc y Scarlets - 21 September 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 6-9 Att: 14,111
Scarlets T: North P: Priestland (3) Samson Lee
Ospreys T: Ryan Jones, Dirksen C: Biggar (2) P: Biggar (3) Jonathan Thomas

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS 27 - 17 CONNACHT

Scotstoun - 21 September 2012
KO: 19:35 HT: 15-10 Att: 3,646
Glasgow T: Lamont, Murchie, van der Merwe C: Wight (2) P: Wight
Connacht T: McRea, White C: Jarvis (2) P: Jarvis

 

ZEBRE P - P ULSTER

Stadio XXV Aprile - 21 September 2012

 

LEINSTER 22 - 16 EDINBURGH

Royal Dublin Society - 22 September 2012
KO: 18:15 HT: 10-6 Att: tba
Leinster T: Sexton, Macken (2) C: Sexton (2) P: Sexton
Edinburgh T: Nel C: Laidlaw P: Laidlaw (9) Cox, Yapp

 

CARDIFF BLUES 34 - 18 BENETTON TREVISO

Cardiff Arms Park - 22 September 2012
KO: 18:30 HT: 17-3 Att: tba
Cardiff T: Fish, Roberts, Tovey (2) C: Patchell (4) P: Patchell (2) Davies
Benetton Treviso T: Barbieri (2) C: Burton P: Burton (2) Barbieri

 

MUNSTER 33 - 13 DRAGONS

Thomond Park Stadium - 22 September 2012
KO: 20:00 HT: 14-6 Att: tba
Munster T: Keatley, Ronan, Murray, Zebo, O'Donnell C: O'Gara (4) O'Callaghan
Dragons T: Evans C: Robling P: Prydie, Robling Way

 

 

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DTH van der Merwe set the tone right from the off as his magnificent early try was one of two on the night for the flying wing as Glasgow Warriors heaped more misery on defending RaboDirect PRO12 champions Ospreys as they left the Liberty Stadium with a 28-10 victory.

Both teams took to the field with plenty to play for, with new Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend still looking for his first win in charge and the Ospreys looking to avoid matching their own record set back in 2007 of starting the season as defending champions and with three straight losses.

But it was Townsend and co who were smiling come the final whistle as two van der Merwe tries and one for Chris Fusaro was more than enough to get the Warriors their first win of the season, handing Ospreys the unwanted record in return.

Ulster withheld a fearsome late Munster onslaught, ensuring Paddy Jackson's fine kicking display handed his side a thrilling 20-19 victory. Munster went through umpteen phases of play late on but some superb discipline from Ulster ensured they did not concede any penalties and did not give Ronan O'Gara the chance to win it with a drop goal.

Jackson scored 15 points on the night with five penalties and that, combined with a try for the impressive Jared Payne, took Ulster up the table to second place.

Edinburgh's proud record of never losing to Italian opposition on home turf never looked in threat as Tim Visser's double handed Zebre a 41-10 defeat.

Visser was joined on the scoresheet by Sean Cox and Ross Ford while fly-half Greig Laidlaw added 16 points with the boot for a bonus point and Edinburgh's second win of the season.

The visitors did cross late on through Sinoti Sinoti but it was too little too late and the Italian side headed home still searching for their first RaboDirect PRO12 points.

Jordan Williams grabbed two tries but it was George North who did all the damage as Scarlets came from behind to seal a 24-11 victory over Connacht and move back to the top of the table.

The 20-year-old Wales star was at his destructive best in the second half as the Scarlets, trailing 8-0 at half-time, ignored a blustering headwind to roar back and seal an impressive victory.

Behind by six points in the closing stages, Connacht refused to settle for a losing bonus point and, roared on by the home crowd, pushed for the converted try they needed, but their hopes were dashed when Jonathan Davies intercepted in the final minute and streaked clear.

Alex Cuthbert's second-half try proved the difference as the Cardiff Blues ended their Welsh hoodoo with a hard-fought 16-5 win over the Dragons.

Coming into the clash the Dragons had won five of their last six matches against Welsh opposition at Rodney Parade while the Blues had won only one of their last 11 matches against the three other Welsh regions. Steffan Jones' first-half try was the only score of the game for the home side while in addition to Cuthbert's try the impressive Rhys Patchell added a conversion and three penalties.

The other bright spot for the Blues was the return in the second half of Jamie Roberts after six months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Jonny Sexton's last-gasp drop goal helped Leinster edge past Treviso 19-18 at the Stadio Monigo to move into the top half of the table.

Brian O'Driscoll, Sexton and Jamie Heaslip - skipper on the day - all started for the first time this season, as Leinster looked to follow up last week's thumping 45-25 success over the Dragons.

But when Fabio Semenzato crossed with a minute remaining, and Kris Burton converted to give Treviso the lead, it looked as though the internationals' return would be in vain.

However with time virtually up, Sexton kept his nerve and fired the ball through the uprights to give Leinster the points.

RESULTS

OSPREYS 10 - 28 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Liberty Stadium - Friday 14th September 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 0-15 Att: 7,159
Ospreys T: Evans C: Biggar P: Biggar Webb
Glasgow T: van der Merwe (2), Fusaro C: Weir (2) P: Weir (2), Jackson Eddie

 

ULSTER 20 - 19 MUNSTER

Ravenhill - Friday 14th September 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 9-16 Att: 10,397
Ulster T: Payne P: Jackson (5)
Munster T: Earls C: Keatley P: Keatley (2) DG: Keatley (2) Dougall

 

EDINBURGH 34 - 10 ZEBRE

Murrayfield - Friday 14th September 2012
KO: 19:30 HT: 20-3 Att: 3,541
Edinburgh T: Cox, Visser, Ford, PT C: Laidlaw (4) P: Laidlaw (2)
Zebre T: Sinoti C: Halangahu P: Halangahu Geldenhuys

 

CONNACHT 11 - 24 SCARLETS

Sportsground - Saturday 15th September 2012
KO: 15:00 HT: 8-0 Att: 4,074
Connacht T: Griffin P: Nikora (2)
Scarlets T: Jordan Williams (2), North, Jonathan Davies C: Priestland, Jordan Williams

 

BENETTON TREVISO 18 - 19 LEINSTER

Stadio di Monigo - Saturday 15th September 2012
KO: 18:05 HT: 8-3 Att: 7,331
Treviso T: Barbieri, Semenzato C: Burton P: di Bernardo, Burton
Leinster T: O'Driscoll C: Sexton P: Sexton (3) DG: Sexton McLaughlin

 

DRAGONS 5 - 16 CARDIFF BLUES

Rodney Parade - Saturday 15th September 2012
KO: 18:30 HT: 5-3 Att: 5,000
Dragons T: Steffan Jones
Cardiff T: Cuthbert C: Patchell P: Patchell (3) Trevett

 

 

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AFTER just two rounds there are only three teams left with 100% winning record in the RaboDirect PRO12, Munster, Scarlets and Ulster, and one of those must go in the next round as Ulster host Munster at Ravenhill on Friday night. Whilst Munster have the better record in this fixture, Ulster have had the better of their opponents at home, so it really is anyone’s game. 

Fly-half Greig Laidlaw held his nerve to lead Edinburgh to their first win of the season with a 21-19 success at the Cardiff Arms Park. In their first league game since a permanent return to their old ground the Cardiff Blues looked well set to make it two wins out of two thanks to the boot of Leigh Halfpenny, only for Laidlaw's late drop goal to claim the points for the visitors.

Connacht fly-half Miah Nikora put in a faultless kicking display to dash Zebre's hopes of a victory in their home debut with the visitors running out 30-17 winners in a hotly-contested game in Parma. It was Connacht's first victory of the season and in a role reversal from last week's loss to Cardiff Blues, the Irishmen made their chances pay as wing Tiernan O'Halloran and No. 8. George Naoupu both scored tries.

Wales starlet George North made it three tries in two games as the Scarlets ensured Glasgow Warriors' new life at Scotstoun began with an 18-13 defeat. With Scotstoun being unveiled as the Warriors' permanent home for the first time the crowd were desperate to welcome in a new era with a win. But North - fresh from two tries as the Scarlets thrashed Heineken Cup champions Leinster in the opening weekend of action - and his teammates hadn't read the script in Glasgow.The Wales wing's score, plus others from Andy Fenby and Aaron Shingler, gave them a cushion which ensured Chris Cusiter's second-half Warriors try was too little too late.

Munster were half a pass and half a yard from cutting loose against Benetton Treviso but could only conjure a solitary Doug Howlett try in their 19-6 win at Thomond Park. Treviso were fresh from humbling reigning champions Ospreys 12-6 in round one but never looked likely to come out on top in Ireland. Munster fly-half Ian Keatley pulled the strings as well as looking infallible from the tee as he collected 14 points but his team's margin of victory deserved to be greater.

Newport Gwent Dragons felt the wrath of an angry Leinster as the European champions put their opening-round horror show behind them to record a 45-25 victory. Leinster had suffered a humiliating seven-try thrashing at the hands of the Scarlets last week and even though they are still missing a host of internationals they responded in the best possible fashion. Winger Andrew Conway, flanker Ben Marshall crossed in the first half with the unerring boot of Ian Madigan contributing a further 16 points. The Dragons, who had an enjoyed a morale-boosting 37-6 victory over Zebre last week, did respond through fly-half Steffan Jones' try and eight points from the boot of Tom Prydie as they trailed 26-13 at the break. Although tries Shane Jennings and Fionn Carr extended the hosts' advantage after the break, two tries from Prydie and Dan Evans nearly brought the Dragons back into it before centre Brendan Macken's injury-time try brought the breathless action to a close.

Replacement Paul Marshall was the last-gasp hero as Ulster inflicted a second-straight defeat on defending champions Ospreys with a 16-13 win. The Welsh outfit were desperate for a more encouraging result having seen their title defence get off to the worst possible start with a 12-6 defeat against Treviso. But replacement scrum-half Marshall gave Ulster the lead for the first time in the game with a 75th-minute try which, combined with eight points from another late arrival Paddy Jackson, saw them to victory.

RESULTS

CARDIFF BLUES 19 - 21 EDINBURGH

Cardiff Arms Park - Friday 7th September 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 9-8 Att: tba
Cardiff T: Cuthbert C: Halfpenny P: Halfpenny (4) Navidi
Edinburgh T: Tim Visser, PT C: Laidlaw P: Laidlaw (2) DG: Laidlaw Tonks

 

ZEBRE 17 - 30 CONNACHT

Stadio XXV Aprile - Friday 7th September 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 0-13 Att: tba
Zebre T: Pace, van Schalkwyk C: Orquera (2) P: Orquera Pace, Redolfini
Connacht T: O'Halloran, McCarthy, Naopu C: Nikora (3) P: Nikora (3) Gannon, Ah You

 

GLASGOW 13 - 18 SCARLETS

Scotstoun - Friday 7th September 2012
KO: 19:35 HT: 6-10 Att: tba
Glasgow Warriors T: Cusiter C: Weir P: Jackson (2)
Scarlets T: Shingler, Fenby, North P: Priestland Shingler

 

MUNSTER 19 - 6 BENETTON TREVISO

Thomond Park Stadium - Friday 7th September 2012
KO: 20:00 HT: 16-3 Att: tba
Munster T: Howlett C: Keatley P: Keatley (4) Sherry
Treviso P: di Bernardo (2) Sgarbi

 

LEINSTER 45 - 25 DRAGONS

Royal Dublin Society - Saturday 8th September 2012
KO: 18:15 HT: 26-13 Att: tba
Leinster T: Conway, Marshall, Jennings, Carr, Macken C: Madagan (3), Nacewa P: Madigan (4)
Dragons T: Steffan Jones, Prydie, Dan Evans C: Prydie (2) P: Prydie (2) Williams

 

OSPREYS 13 - 16 ULSTER

Liberty Stadium - Saturday 8th September 2012
KO: 18:30 HT: 7-3 Att: tba
Ospreys T: Dirksen C: Morgan P: Morgan (2)
Ulster T: Paul Marshall C: Jackson P: O'Connor, Jackson (2)

 

 

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A double on debut for full-back Dan Evans saw Newport Gwent Dragons romp to the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table with an emphatic 37-6 victory as Zebre were given a baptism of fire at Rodney Parade. Mark Anscombe enjoyed a winning start as Ulster coach as his side, shorn of most of their Irish internationals, overpowered Glasgow Warriors 18-10. Ian Evans' first-half red card cost Ospreys dearly as the defending champions began the new season with defeat as Benetton Treviso claimed a shock 12-6 win. Cardiff Blues scrum-half Lewis Jones ran in his first try for the club to give Phil Davies victory in his first game in charge as they beat Connacht 13-9. George North and Andy Fenby grabbed two tries apiece as Scarlets put last season's finalists Leinster to the sword with a dominant display in their 45-20 win at Parc y Scarlets, and a hat-trick from Edinburgh winger Tim Visser was not enough for Edinburgh to edge past Munster as the 2011 champions won 23-18 at Murrayfield.

RESULTS

DRAGONS 37 - 6 ZEBRE

Rodney Parade - Friday 31st August 2012
KO: 19:00 HT: 34-6 Att: 4,540
Dragons T: Tuilagi, Harries, Evans (2) C: Prydie (4) P:Prydie (2) DG: Steffan Jones
Zebre P: Orquera

 

ULSTER 18 - 10 GLASGOW WARRIORS

Ravenhill - Friday 31st August 2012
KO: 19:05 HT: 8-3 Att: 8,108
Ulster T: Allen, Gilroy C: O’Connor P: O’Connor
Glasgow T: Seymour C: Jackson P: Weir Seymour

 

BENETTON TREVISO 12 - 6 OSPREYS

Stadio di Monigo - Friday 31st August 2012
KO: 20:05 HT: 12-3 Att: 3,500
Treviso P: Burton (4) Fernandez-Rouyet, Budd
Ospreys P: Biggar YC: Evans

 

CONNACHT 9 - 13 CARDIFF BLUES

Sportsground - Saturday 1st September 2012
KO: 17:00 HT: 0-13 Att: 3,869
Connacht P: Nikora (3)
Cardiff T: Jones C: Sweeney P: Sweeney (2)

 

SCARLETS 45 - 20 LEINSTER

Parc y Scarlets - Saturday 1st September 2012
KO: 18:30 HT: 14-6 Att: 6,559
Scarlets T: Scott Williams, Liam Williams, North (2), Fenby (2), Murphy C: Thomas (3), Priestland (2)
Leinster T: Toner, Madigan C: Madigan (2) P: Madigan (2)

 

EDINBURGH 18 - 23 MUNSTER

Murrayfield - Saturday 1st September 2012
KO: 20:00 HT: 10-10 Att: 4.050
Edinburgh T: Visser (3) P: Laidlaw
Munster T: Keatley, O'Dea C: Keatley (2) P: Keatley (3)

 

 

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Tournament round ups courtesy of RaboDirect PRO12