RUGBY / Leinster 16 Celtic Warriors 37: It was one of those nights for Leinster when anything that could go wrong generally did and they could ill-afford such largesse against a side that thoroughly deserved last night's Celtic League victory at Donnybrook.
The Welsh side produced some sparking, expansive rugby but their win was facilitated by some dreadful play from the home side. There was little to cheer the home supporters save the odd cameo from Gary Brown, James Norton, Des Dillon and Ben Gissing. Felipe Contepomi tried manfully but even he succumbed to the general torpor.
Leinster's first-half performance was undermined by a succession of errors from sloppy protection defending the restart, brittle first-up tackling, a creaky scrum and the odd lineout hiccup.
Shane Jennings was unusually ineffective in terms of fringe defence, twice missing the first-up tackle, although that may have been a result of an early shoulder injury that saw him replaced at half-time. In the dying minutes of the first half it took two aggressive tackles from first Christian Warner and then Gary Brown to prevent certain tries.
Leinster coach Gary Ella will have been furious with the brace of tries his team conceded during that period. The first was scored by left wing Richard Mustoe and came from a turnover; the second was scored by scrumhalf Sililo Martens, who ran 30 metres to the posts untouched.
Outhalf Neil Jenkins built on his remarkable run of 37 place kicks in succession without missing by taking that number to 40 by half-time, the first a hum-dinger from the touchline.
Contepomi, having missed an early penalty, kicked three penalties and converted his own try, having intercepted a pass by Warriors centre Jonathan Bryant in his own 22.
Soon after the restart the Leinster midfield was sliced open again, Bryant dummying the pass to cut through and send Shaun James over under the posts. The conversion made it 24-16.
Warriors didn't require much assistance but profited all night from a liberal interpretation of the offside rule by referee Rob Dickson.
Leinster spurned a glorious opportunity following a fine break by Brendan Burke, James Norton took it on but Brown slightly overran the side pass.
Jenkins then tagged on yet another penalty to make it 27-16 and hit number 43 in succession after 74 minutes. In injury time the Warriors grabbed the bonus point when Bryant scored following yet another Leinster turnover. Jenkins converted, 44 kicks at goal without missing.
Scoring sequence. 6 mins: Mustoe try, Jenkins conversion, 0-7; 11: Contepomi penalty, 3-7; 14: Contepomi try, Contepomi conversion, 10-7; 16: Martens try, Jenkins conversion, 10-14; 23: Contepomi penalty, 13-14; 26: Contepomi penalty, 16-14; 38: Jenkins penalty, 16-17. Half-time: 16-17. 46: Shaun James try, Jenkins conversion, 16-24; 71: Jenkins penalty, 16-27; 74: Jenkins penalty, 16-30; 83: Bryant try, Jenkins conversion, 16-37.
LEINSTER: J Norton; J McWeeney, G Brown, C Warner, B Burke; F Contepomi, B O'Riordan; S Brophy, G Hickie, P Coyle, B Gissing, A Kearney, N Breslin, D Dillon, S Jennings (capt). Replacements: C Potts for Jennings (half-time); D Blaney for Hickie (56 mins); S Crawford for Kearney (56 mins); J Downey for Burke (64 mins); E Bohan for Brophy (65 mins); B O'Meara for O'Riordan (72 mins); M Leek for McWeeney (72 mins).
CELTIC WARRIORS: G Wyatt; D James, S James, J Bryant (capt), R Mustoe; N Jenkins, S Martens; C Loader, M Rees, C Horsman, N Kelly, D Jones, R Jones, R Bryan, C Harris. Replacements: R Parks for Bryan (53-65 mins); M Molitika for R Jones (55 mins); M Jones for Horsman (79 mins).
Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).
