Bonus-point win puts Leinster second

Leinster ran in four tries to deny Zebre back-to-back wins and keep pace with Pro12 leaders Munster with a bonus-point win.

The victory also helped the Irish province to move into second place on the standings.

* In the other match on Sunday a Mark Bennett try and a solitary Ruaridh Jackson penalty proved enough for Glasgow Warriors to see off basement boys Connacht as they won 8-6 at Scotstoun.

We look at Sunday's games!

Newport Gwent Dragons P-P Edinburgh

Sunday's match between the Dragons and Edinburgh was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.

Glasgow Warriors 8-6 Connacht

A Mark Bennett try and a solitary Ruaridh Jackson penalty proved enough for Glasgow Warriors to see off Pro12 basement boys Connacht as they won 8-6 at Scotstoun.

With the weather forcing Glasgow's last two home games to be postponed, the Warriors welcomed Connacht to Scotstoun having won three of their last four clashes with Irish sides.

But despite Connacht's last Pro12 away win coming back in April, the strugglers found themselves ahead as two Craig Ronaldson penalties cancelled out a Bennett try for the hosts.

However Connacht couldn't add to their tally after the break and Jackson sent over a 44th-minute penalty that proved to be enough for the narrow victory.

The game's first scoring opportunity fell at the feet of Connacht's Ronaldson after the Warriors were penalised for holding on, however the centre couldn't split the uprights.

But he had no trouble five minutes later, kicking Connacht into a 3-0 lead after Hackson was penalised for holding on.

However on 20 minutes the hosts found themselves in front as Bennett went over for what proved to be the game's only try.

Henry Pyrgos started the move with a lovely break and his chip in behind was gathered by wing Bennett, Jackson missing with the conversion.

Just five minutes later Ronaldson had a great chance to put the visitors back in front but his penalty from in front of the posts sailed wide.

And after he missed another attempt on 29 minutes it looked like Glasgow would hold onto the lead heading into the interval but the Connacht No.12 found his range on the stroke of half-time to put Connacht back in front.

Connacht's lead lasted just four minutes into the second half as the Warriors won a penalty at a scrum and Jackson made no mistake from the tee.

However Jackson was wayward with a drop-goal attempt just moments later as he looked to put some breathing space between Glasgow and Connacht.

The Connacht defence then had to dig deep as the Warriors pushed for a second try.

With ten minutes remaining Jackson sent a long-range penalty attempt wide and he was similarly wayward on 73 minutes, this time from much closer to the posts.

With one minute left Jackson hit the crossbar with a long-range penalty but it didn't matter as the Warriors held on for the narrow win.

The scorers:

For Glasgow Warriors:

Try: Bennett

Pen: Jackson

For Connacht:

Pens: Ronaldson 2

Teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Niko Matawalu, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 Mark Bennett, 11 Rory Hughes, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Tyrone Holmes, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Tom Ryder, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Gordon Reid.

Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 James Eddie, 20 Fraser Brown, 21 Murray McConnell, 22 Finn Russell, 23 Scott Wight.

Connacht: 15 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Jake Heenan, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Andrew Browne, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 1 Dennis Buckley.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 JP Cooney, 19 Michael Swift, 20 Aly Muldowney, 21 Paul O'Donohoe, 22 Dan Parks, 23 Darragh Leader.

Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)

Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Graeme Marshall (both SRU)

Zebre 8-31 Leinster

Leinster ran in four tries to deny Zebre back-to-back wins and keep pace with Pro12 leaders Munster with a bonus-point win.

Tries for John Cooney and Noel Reid either side of half time helped Leinster forget a slow start, after Dries van Schalkwyk gave the hosts the lead.

Zane Kirchner killed the game off to ensure Zebre would not win consecutive Pro12 games for the first time in their history, while Darren Hudson earned the bonus point late on.

Both sides had opportunities to open the scoring inside the first ten minutes and it was the hosts who found the opening try, after 14 minutes.

After a measured build-up, the Italian pack drove their way over the line, allowing van Schalkwyk to touch down – but Kelly Haimona could not add the extras.

Leinster reacted well to falling behind and, after putting the hosts under some sustained pressure, they took the lead after 22 minutes, courtesy of Cooney.

The Leinster scrum-half collected from the back of the scrum to dart between two defenders and dot down, for Jimmy Gopperth to complete a simple conversion.

The Irish province continued to probe away at Zebre but a resilient defence refused to allow them in for a second try.

And on the stroke of half time Leinster were forced to settle for a penalty, which Gopperth struck between the posts to open up a five-point lead at the break.

Luke McGrath capitalised on the first opening after half time but he was stopped five metres short, before Gopperth sent a penalty wide of the left upright five minutes later.

Leinster did eventually add to their score, and open up the healthiest lead of the match so far, after 55 minutes when Reid streaked clear to score under the posts, for Gopperth to convert.

Haimona – seconded from Calvisano to cover for international absentees – hit back for Zebre with a well-struck penalty shortly before the hour mark but the visitors were on the board next.

Further Leinster pressure paid off, when Kirchner collected a smart offload to burst under the posts and score a third try, while replacement Ian Madigan added the extras.

The Irish side went in search of a fourth try – and with it a fourth try bonus point of the season – but Darragh Fanning knocked-on agonisingly after breaking the last line of defence.

However, they finally got their reward two minutes from time when Hudson spilt a poor pass backwards, before picking it up, side-stepping his marker and crossing over – Madigan duly converted.

The scorers:

For Zebre:

Try: Van Schalkwyk

Pen: Haimona

For Leinster:

Tries: Cooney, Reid, Kirchner, Hudson

Cons: Gopperth 2, Madigan 2

Pen: Gopperth

Teams:

Zebre: 15 Ruggero Trevisan, 14 Giulio Toniolatti 13 Roberto Quartaroli, 12 Kameli Ratuvou, 11 David Odiete, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Andries van Schalkwyk, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 5 George Biagi, 4 Emiliano Caffini, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Tommaso D'Apice, 1 Matias Aguero (captain).

Replacements: 16 Lorenzo Giovanchelli, 17 Andrea de Marchi, 18 David Ryan, 19 Michael van Vuuren, 20 Giacomo Bernini, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Giulio Bisegni, 23 Filippo Cristiano.

Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Darragh Fanning, 13 Brendan Macken, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Sam Coghlan-Murray, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 John Cooney, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Leo Cullen (captain), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Aaron Dundon, 1 Michael Bent.

Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Jack O'Connell, 18 Edward Byrne, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Darren Hudson.

Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales)

Assistant Referees: Filippo Bertelli, Frencesco Russo (both Italy)

TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)