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Leinster 24-35 Connacht
By John O'Sullivan
Connacht registered their first interprovincial victory of the season after a bonus point, 35-24 win away to Leinster at the RDS Arena in the Guinness PRO14.
Two tries from Guinness player of the match Jack Carty -- who also kicked three penalties and three conversions -- and a try apiece from Alex Wootton and Tom Daly condemned Leinster to their first domestic defeat of the season.
The hosts scored four tries of their own via Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ryan Baird, and Ed Byrne, but it was the Westerners who deservedly triumphed in a performance built on a foundation of defensive intensity and attacking efficiency.
From the outset, it was clear that Connacht would play with tempo on and off the ball and it didn't take long for that approach to yield try-scoring fruit.
Intelligently reading a Leinster move, Carty intercepted the ball on halfway and -- backing his pace -- ran in a try that he converted himself to give the visitors a more than merited early lead.
Leinster, who were unbeaten in the 26 prior PRO14 games, were keen to attack but Connacht were resolute in defence, especially at the breakdown. Conor Oliver was proving especially strong in defence and the Westerners rolled with the host's punches before they claimed their second try in a fruitful opening 22 minutes.
After a line out in the defending champions' 22, Connacht were patient in possession before working the ball to the flank. Assisted by the considerable size of Quinn Roux, Carty claimed his second try as he powered over from close range in the left-hand corner. The Roscommon was marginally wide with his conversion, but the visitors established a 12-0 lead.
Leinster got themselves back into the contest when Penny -- spotting a gap at ruck -- smiped in for a try. Connacht, though, realigned themselves and scored on three more occasions before the interval.
Carty slotted two penalties before -- on the stroke of half time -- Wootton touched down for a try in the left corner in a brilliant ten-minute sequence before the break. Once again showing patience in the opposition 22, the ball was worked to the winger and he crossed for a score that Carty nailed from the touchline to see the Westerners go into the break leading 25-5.
Leinster started the second half in strong fashion and had a try only three minutes after the resumption. McGrath showed sharp instincts to run in near the posts. Jimmy O'Brien converted and the hosts were within 13 points at 12-25.
Connacht's work at the breakdown was effective and after they won another penalty at the coalface, Carty stepped up and made no error from the tee to extend the Westerners lead further, 12-28.
The game was played in an end to end fashion and Leinster were next to score when Baird peeled off a rolling maul to touch down in the corner. O'Brien converted to bring the score to 17-28.
With their tails up, the hosts continued to pile on the pressure, but the visitors defence -- where Gavin Thornbury, the Masterson brothers, Sean and Eoghan, and Daly were rock solid -- was well drilled and eager for contact.
Connacht's line speed was forcing errors from Leinster and it was through this aggressive approach that Andy Friend's men wrapped up their bonus-point win.
Running a hard defensive line, Daly managed an interception and, despite the attention of two Leinster defenders, powered his way over the line for a try which Carty converted to bring the score out to 35-17.
Leinster would have the final say with a score from Byrne from close range, but it was Connacht who held out for a deserved win, their first away to Leinster since 2002.
Connacht team:
(15-9)
15: John Porch
14: Peter Sullivan
13: Sammy Arnold
12: Tom Daly
11: Alex Wootton
10: Jack Carty
9: Caolin Blade
(8-1)
8: Sean Masterson
7: Conor Oliver
6: Eoghan Masterson
5: Quinn Roux
4: Gavin Thornbury
3: Dominic Robertson McCoy
2: Shane Delahunt
1: Denis Buckley
Replacements: Matthew Burke for Buckley, Jonny Murphy for Delahunt, Conor Kenny for Robertson McCoy, Ultan Dillane for Quinn Roux, Cian Prendergast for S.Masterson, C.Reilly for Blade, Diarmuid Kilgallen for Wootton, Ben O'Donnell for Sullivan
