Leinster up and running
Leinster picked up their first win of the Magners League season with a 23-14 victory over Newport-Gwent Dragons at the RDS.
Last Updated: 12/09/09 9:47pm
Leinster picked up their first win of the Magners League season with a 23-14 victory over Newport-Gwent Dragons on Saturday night.
Fly-half Jonathan Sexton fired over four penalties and full-back Isa Nacewa notched Leinster's only try to secure a much-needed win for the European champions.
Dragons competed well throughout the match, however James Arlidge's second half try came in vain as the visitors failed to build on their victory over Ulster the previous week.
Nathan Hines and Eoin Reddan made their competitive debuts for Leinster, albeit off the bench, and the pair were applauding on 14 minutes when Sexton slotted the first of his penalty successes.
Arlidge responded quickly after Kevin McLaughlin was pulled up for a binding offence, however Dragons suffered a setback when Gavin Thomas was sent to the sin-bin for killing the ball.
Intense pressure
Another Sexton penalty followed, but the 14-men maintained possession impressively with Ashley Smith and Grant Webb causing problems.
The Dragons indiscipline continued seven minutes before the break, Smith the next man to walk after he spoilt a ruck. Leinster had to settle for another Sexton kick rom the ensuing attack, however the Dragons cancelled out that score on the stroke of half-time with an Arlidge drop goal.
With the home side 9-6 ahead at the start of the second period, Dragons were forced to defend under intense pressure in the opening stages.
Their resistance was finally broken on 54 minutes when fine link-up play between Sexton and Shaun Berne set Gordon D'Arcy free near halfway and his well-placed pass put Nacewa thundering past Richard Fussell and over from 30 metres out.
A drop-goal from Berne extended Leinster's lead to 17-6, however the Dragons maintained their composure and hit back when Tom Riley tied up D'Arcy near the Leinster 22, allowing Fussell the time and space to put full-back Thomas through for an unconverted try.
Sexton settled any nerves with a close-range penalty seven minutes from time and Berne's final-minute drop goal confirmed the Irish province's 10th successive win at the RDS.
