Celtic League/Glasgow - 18 Leinster - 21: Leinster maintained their title hopes after moving back to the top of the Celtic League with victory over Glasgow Warriors at Firhill Stadium last night in a physical contest that tested the would-be champions perhaps more than they anticipated.
But Leinster while pleased with their win will be conscious that they failed to produce the fluency that has characterised their earlier Celtic League matches and as a result came away from Glasgow without a bonus point.
It was Glasgow who struck first with a penalty goal by outhalf Dan Parks but at the other end and from a similar distance Felipe Contepomi was off target with his first shot.
But Leinster did not have to wait long for their first points as Contepomi found his goal kicking form to land a simple penalty goal.
Leinster, now beginning to dominate territory and possession, turned pressure into points after Glasgow's international centre Andrew Henderson had been shown the yellow card for jersey pulling following an attacking run by Brian O'Driscoll.
From the ensuing lineout Malcolm O'Kelly secured possession before the Leinster forwards formed a driving a maul that ended with flanker Keith Gleeson exploding off the back to score the game's opening try, converted by Contepomi.
Leinster were not content with a one-try contribution in the first half and added a second courtesy of a trenchant run from lock Adam Byrnes, whose off-load to Guy Easterby and the link from O'Driscoll gave Rob Kearney a 20 metre run in for the try and a 15-3 advantage at half-time.
Two minutes into the second half there was a shock for Leinster as Henderson intercepted and ran 40 metres to the line with Parks' conversion narrowing Leinster's lead to five points.
Leinster recovered quickly and reopened the eight points gap with a penalty goal from Contepomi. An exchange of penalties by Parks and Contepomi maintained the eight-points margin before Glasgow staged a late charge.
A loose tap from a lineout by Malcolm O'Kelly was gratefully collected by replacement prop Stuart Corsar, who had the pace and running skills to make it to the line. Glasgow put everything into attack and came close to a further breakthrough but Leinster held out.
GLASGOW: C Shaw; S Davey, H O'Hare, A Henderson, R Lamont; D Parks, C Gregor; K Tkachuk, F Thomson, B Prescott, J Eddie, D Turner, A Wilson, D Macfadyen, J Beattie. Replacements: J Barclay for Wilson (68 mins), S Corsar for Prescott (69 mins), G Morrison for O'Hare (72 mins).
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; R Kearney, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, D Hickie; F Contepomi, G Easterby; R Corrigan, B Jackman, E Byrne, A Byrnes, M O'Kelly, E Miller, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: G D'Arcy for O'Driscoll (half-time), R McCormack for Corrigan, B Gissing for Byrnes (67 mins).
Referee: H Watkins (Wales).
