The Leinster Schools retained their interprovincial crown with a four-try defeat of Munster Schools at Anglesea Road yesterday. Munster came into this game with a victory over Ulster, who had beaten Leinster. All they required was a draw or a narrow defeat of not more than five points to wrench the title away from the capital.

With the backing of a strong wind, Munster took the game to Leinster early on. Second rows Paul Griffin and Paul O'Connell were adept at snaffling all their own lineout and a fair percentage of Leinster's.

But their all-round game stuttered, and eventually crumbled, particularly behind the scrum. In contrast, Leinster had Gordon Darcy, Kieran Lewis, Andy Dunne and Simon Keogh. This quartet quickly nullified Munster gains and cut the Munster back line to ribbons.

Fullback Darcy and Noel Ross went over the 17th and 20th minutes for tries after moves that started inside Leinster's own half. Darcy converted the first and hit a 23rd minute penalty to send Leinster into a 15-0 lead.

Munster flanker James O'Neill barged his way over in the 34th minute to trim the Leinster lead to 15-5 at the break. But any thoughts of a Munster revival were quashed by two converted tries from Keogh and flanker Andrew Cullen.

Leinster scorers: G Darcy try, pen and three cons, N Ross, S Keogh, A Cullen try each. Mun- ster - J O'Neill try.

Leinster Schools: G Darcy (Clongowes Wood College); J Norton (St Mary's), K Lewis (St Mary's), M O'Kelly (Terenure College), N Ross (Blackrock); A Dunne (Belvedere College), S Keogh (St Michael's College); G Cleary (St Michael's), G McEvoy (Blackrock), N Treston (Blackrock), E Keane (Templeogue College), D Dillon (Terenure), T Carter (Terenure), A Cullen (Belvedere), J Jenkinson (Terenure). Replace- ment: G Hickie (St Mary's), for McEvoy 62 mins.

Munster Schools: R O'Sullivan (PBC, Cork); T Daly (CBC Cork), S Hassett (CBC), M Lawler (Ard Scoil Ris), R Connery (Crescent College); D McInerney (Crescent), M O'Connor (St Munchin's College); C Bradley (CBC), D Noonan (Rockwell College), G Walsh (Crescent), P Griffin (St Munchin's), P O'Connell (Ard Scoil Ris), J O'Neill (St Clement's College), J Sheehan (PBC), A Hickey (CBC). Replacements: I Cox (St Munchin's) for Lawler and J Riordan (PBC), for Noonan, both half-time, A O'Sullivan (Rockwell) for O'Neill 52 mins, E Reddan (Crescent) for O'Connor and R McGrath (CBC) for Sheehan, both 55 mins.

Referee: E Walsh, Connacht branch.