Dragons humbled by Magners champs

10:55am Sunday 4th May 2008

Comments (11)   Have your say »

Leinster 41

Dragons 8

The Newport-Gwent Dragons were humbled by Magner's League winners Leinster, who were winning their first piece of silverware since their Celtic League final defeat of Munster in 2001, at The RDS on Saturday evening.

It was a night on which the Dragons were offered up as lambs to the slaughter or unforgivable party-poopers to Leinster. Sadly, it turned out to be the former as Leinster's quality shone right from the off.

The late withdrawal of international full-back Kevin Morgan did nothing for the Dragons' preparation. Jason Tovey stepped up from the bench and Phil Dollman was an emergency selection in the replacements.

The demise of Connacht on Friday night eased the nerves and they were free to play without the burden of pressure that has been their bedfellow since the turn of the year.

However, it was the last hurrah for Keith Gleeson, after seven seasons, and Ollie Le Roux, after less than one, in Ireland's capital city, and neither was going to let the game pass without leaving their imprint.

The Dragons got into their stride quickly until Gleeson shot through onto scrum-half Andy Williams from the most hind-foot at a ruck. It set off a series of bursts starting with Bernard Jackman, interrupted by the awarding of a penalty that Le Roux took home from a quick tap.

Soon, Le Roux was looking for his hat trick when he replicated the previous exercise of catching the Dragons off guard with a second surge from a five-metre penalty to make it 10-0 by the eighth minute.

Undaunted, The Dragons continued to carry the ball wide and hit it up the middle through powerful centre Gareth Maule, who steamed into Brian O'Driscoll for the gain of five yards. Referee Andy McPherson whistled the Leinster captain for not releasing the ball at the ruck. Outside-half Ceri Sweeney nailed the penalty.

Then, Jonathan Sexton's slipped ball sent Shane Horgan roaring over halfway. He found O'Driscoll with the alert Gareth Wyatt on hand to bring the attack to a conclusion. Wyatt was vigilant again when out-sprinting Sexton to a chip and chase at the end of the first quarter.

A smartly worked tap-and-go from scrum-half Williams reminded the home side that there was danger lurking one move away. Full-back Tovey almost exploited the slow- turning Horgan with his slick use of the boot down the left.

Left wing Richard Fussell gave up a penalty for taking Horgan off the ball. Centre Felipe Contepomi, having missed the two previous conversions, was content to go for the corner.

Leinster lock Trevor Hogan took in the lineout and flanker Shane Jennings drove around the side of a maul to set up the backline for O'Driscoll's sublime sleight of hand to send Horgan over for the third try, converted by Contepomi, in the 33rd minute.

The pressure and the possession were getting to the Dragons. They could not hold their discipline and Contepomi banged over a penalty for offside to give Leinster a 20-3 lead at the break.

Sexton was showing his repertoire of tricks with a delicate ball over the top and an aggressive follow- through on full-back Tovey to shake the ball loose. Stan Wright showed the hands of an openside to complete the turnover for Shane Jennings to burst past two defenders for the bonus point.

Number eight Jamie Heaslip set off on a 60-metre dash that was halted by Tovey only for scrum-half Chris Whitaker to show up for the finish into the right corner.

There followed a period of Dragons pressure where half-backs Williams and Sweeney moved the ball laterally, inviting players onto the ball. It didn't work. Leinster broke away in waves for replacement Cameron Jowitt to stroll in from 30 metres for Contepomi's third consecutive conversion.

To their credit, the Dragons kept the ball alive and loose-head Adam Black was the extra man on the touchline for the try they had threatened all evening. It was the one bright moment as they approach their final two matches of the season against the Ospreys and Leinster.

Leinster: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, R Kearney; J Sexton, C Whitaker; O Le Roux, B Jackman, S Wright, T Hogan, M O'Kelly, S Jennings, K Gleeson, J Heaslip.

Replacements: C Jowitt for O'Kelly, C Warner for Sexton, L Fitzgerald for Kearney all 59 mins; S Knoop for Le Roux 63 mins; S Keogh for Gleeson 68 mins; C Keane for Whitaker 70 mins; B Blaney for Jackman 73 mins.

Scorers - Tries: O Le Roux (2), S Horgan, S Jennings, C Whitaker, C Jowitt; cons - F Contepomi (4); pens - F Contepomi 1.

Dragons: J Tovey; G Wyatt, P Emerick, G Maule, R Fussell; C Sweeney, A Williams; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas, A Jones, P Sidoli, J Ringer, R Parks, M Owen.

Replacements: A Hall for Sidoli ht; L Evans for Ringer 55 mins; P Dollman for Maule 65 mins; W Evans for Williams 66 mins; L Harrison Thomas 67 mins; B Daly for S Jones 75 mins.

Scorers - Try: A Black; pen - C Sweeney.

Referee: A McPherson, Scotland.