Leinster looking strong at the summit

Leinster strengthened their grip at the top of the Pro12 table after a nervy 23-19 win against Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

The victory saw them stretch their lead to nine points over the second-placed Ospreys.

And Munster gave their Pro12 play-off hopes a shot in the arm with a morale-boosting 29-11 win over Treviso.

A Gareth Davies try in first-half injury time proved crucial as the Scarlets recorded a 16-14 win over Glasgow.

And Aironi made it back-to-back home wins with a 20-6 victory over Connacht at the Stadio Zaffanella thanks a 15-point haul from Luciano Orquera.

We look at all the Saturday matches!

Aironi 20-6 Connacht

Aironi made it back-to-back home wins with a 20-6 win over Connacht at the Stadio Zaffanella thanks a 15 point-haul from Luciano Orquera to add to a Sinoti Sinoti second-half try.

The Italians came into the game with just two wins to their name in the Pro12 but had emerged victorious just before Christmas at home to Italian rivals Treviso.

A defeat to the same opposition the following week could have taken the wind out of their sails but Italy international Orquera ensured they were always in control against Connacht.

The Irish side had fallen to an encouraging 15-13 defeat at home to reigning European champions Leinster last time out but arrived in Italy severely depleted due to injuries.

And Aironi took full advantage to repeat their feats of last season when Connacht were their only league victims.

The defeat makes it 13 games in a row without a win for Eric Elwood’s men who now lie just three points clear of Aironi with Newport Gwent Dragons also struggling at the bottom.

The Italians made the perfect start as Orquera notched up an early penalty after just four minutes.

And the Argentine-born pivot was on target again seven minutes later to extend the home side’s lead to 6-0.

With his side missing a host of regular starters, including flanker Johnny O’Connor who broke three bones in his cheek last week, Connacht couldn’t afford to miss their chances, but Matthew Jarvis did just that on the quarter-hour with a penalty attempt.

Orquera extended the lead five minutes later as Connacht failed to break down their opposition, trailing 9-0 at the break.

Things got worse for the visitors immediately after the break as Sinoti crossed two minutes into the second half to extend the lead, Orquera this time missing the conversion.

Five minutes later Orquera found his range again with another penalty as Aironi stretched to a 17-0 lead.

Connacht showed some resolve to come back to 17-3 thanks to a successful Jarvis effort before the fly-half was replaced by Niall O’Connor.

However Orquera took advantage of another penalty shot soon after to take the lead back to 17 points, and despite the loss of Fabio Staibano to the sin bin, Connacht could only manage three more points through O’Connor 13 minutes from time.

The scorers:

For Aironi:
Try: Sinoti
Pens: Orquera 5

For Connacht:
Pens: Jarvis, O’Connor

The teams:

Aironi: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Roberto Quartaroli, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Nicola Cattina, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Joshua Furno, 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 1 Alberto De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D’Apice, 17 Salvatore Perugini, 18 Lorenzo Romano, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Mauro Bergamasco, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Naas Olivier, 23 Alberto Benettin. Coach: Rowland Phillips.

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy (captain), 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Kyle Tonetti, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Tiernan O’Halloran, 10 Matthew Jarvis, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 George Naoupu, 7 John Muldoon, 6 Mick Kearney, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Dylan Rogers, 2 Adrian Flavin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Stewart Maguire, 19 Eoin McKeon, 20 Ray Ofisa, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Niall O’Connor, 23 Henry Fa’afili.

Referee: Andrew McMenemy, (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Alan Falzone, Stefano Roscini (both Italy)
TMO: Stefano Marrama (Italy)

Cardiff Blues 19-23 Leinster

Leigh Halfpenny’s wayward boot allowed Leinster to strengthen their grip at the top of the Pro12 table after a nervy climax against Cardiff Blues.

Leinster, who after this 23-19 win now hold a nine-point lead at the top of the standings, threatened to blow away the hosts early on when Sean O’Brien and Rob Kearney both went over to give the visitors an early 14-point advantage.

Two Halfpenny penalties and a Gethin Jenkins try brought the Blues back into the contest.

But with the stage set for a crucial scalp for the Welsh region Welsh international fullback Halfpenny crucially missed two penalties in quick succession just after the hour mark.

With just a point between the sides Leinster’s Fergus McFadden then kicked Joe Schmidt’s side past the winning post with a penalty 13 minutes from time.

The Blues, who had Gavin Henson withdraw before kick-off with a calf injury, went behind in the fifth minute when No. 8 Jamie Heaslip fed O’Brien to crash under the posts.

Fly-half Jonathan Sexton added the extras before Kearney went over for his side’s second try three minutes later – Sexton again kicking the conversion for a 14-0 lead.

Welsh international Halfpenny began the fight back on 17 minutes when he booted his first penalty, and followed that up three minutes later with another.

Flyhalf Dan Parks – retained in Andy Robinson’s Scotland Six Nations squad despite suggestions otherwise – then got in on the act with a drop-goal before Sexton’s three-pointer just before the break sent Leinster in 17-9 ahead.

Halfpenny’s third penalty of the contest 11 minutes after the restart seemed to galvanize the Blues, as prop Jenkins then barged over from close-range to reduce the deficit still further.

The fullback’s subsequent conversion brought the Blues to within one point. However the wheels then fell off for the 23-year-old as he missed two glorious opportunities to snatch the game.

His 63rd minute penalty fell short, and he then screwed another wide two minutes later as the chance of a remarkable comeback slipped away with it.

Outside centre McFadden then showed him how to do it as he extended Leinster’s winning league run to ten games.

The scorers:

For Cardiff Blues:
Try: Jenkins
Con: Halfpenny
Pens: Halfpenny 3
DG: Parks

For Leinster:
Tries: R Kearney, O’Brien
Cons: Sexton 2
Pens: Sexton 2, McFadden

The teams:

Cardiff: 15 Gavin Henson, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom James, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Marc Breeze, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 John Yapp, 18 Sam Hobbs, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Ceri Sweeney, 23 Richard Mustoe.

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Dave Kearney 13 Fergus McFadden, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Andrew Conway, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip (captain), 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Damian Browne, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Leo Auva’a, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Isa Nacewa, 23 Fionn Carr.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Neil Hennessy, Phil Fear (both Wales)
TMO: Neil Ballard (Wales)

Scarlets 16-14 Glasgow Warriors

A Gareth Davies try in first-half injury time proved crucial as Scarlets moved temporarily into the Pro12 playoff places with a 16-14 win over Glasgow.

Davies took advantage of the fact that the Warriors had two men in the sin-bin to dive over after a spell of concerted pressure on the Glasgow try-line.

And despite an improved showing in the second half from the Warriors, who lost fly-half Ruaridh Jackson to injury inside the first 15 minutes, Scarlets held firm for their third win in a row that puts them fourth with Munster playing in the late kick-off.

Meanwhile the Warriors, who scored the first try of the game through Moray Low, were forced to settle for a losing bonus point that could yet prove vital.

After some cagey opening exchanges it was Sean Lineen’s side who seized the initiative in the seventh minute when prop Low crashed over after Scarlets made a hash of a lineout near their own try-line.

Jackson failed to add the extras and Rhys Priestland reduced his side’s arrears to only 5-3 when he slotted his first penalty of the match just three minutes later.

But in the twelfth minute the gap was back out to five when Jackson slotted over a penalty after the Welsh region failed to roll away at the breakdown.

But that was Jackson’s final contribution as he limped off with an apparent leg injury after the kick to be replaced by youngster Scott Wight.

Two penalties from Priestland then turned the match around and the Scarlets led 9-8 after half an hour and it wasn’t long before Glasgow’s ill discipline really began to cost them.

In the 36th minute the Warriors found themselves reduced to 13 men as first Rob Harley and then Ryan Wilson both saw yellow for separate incidents, Harley involved in an off-the-ball altercation and Wilson pinged for not releasing.

But despite their numerical disadvantage it looked like the Warriors might hold on until half-time but the Scarlets had other ideas and on the stroke of the whistle Davies snuck over to make it 16-8.

The pressure continued after the interval as the home side looked to make their extra numbers count but some stout defending from Glasgow kept them at bay, and the Warriors actually reduced their arrears on 44 minutes when Wight slotted a penalty from near the halfway line to make it 16-11.

Wight then missed with a simpler effort just before the hour mark as the visitors, restored to 15 men, pressed in search of a way back into the game.

The Scarlets had their chances as well and Calum Forrester had to be at his very best to deny Jonathan Davies a try with a last-gasp tackle to keep the score at 16-11.

Wight then reduced the Scottish outfit’s arrears further with a penalty with 15 minutes to go but try as they might the Warriors could not find that final breakthrough and Nigel Davies’ men held out for what could prove to be a crucial victory.

The scorers:

For Scarlets:
Try: G Davies
Con: Priestland
Pens: Priestland 3

For Glasgow Warriors:
Try: Low
Pens: Wight 2, Jackson

Yellow cards: Rob Harley (Glasgow, 36), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow, 36)

The teams:

Scarlets: 15 Dan Newton, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Rob McCusker, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Rhys Thomas, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Aaron Shingler, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Stephen Jones, 23 Viliame Iongi.

Glasgow: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Rob Dewey, 12 Graeme Morrison (captain), 11 David Lemi, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Tom Ryder, 4 Rob Verbakel, 3 Moray Low, 2 Fergus Thomson, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Finlay Gillies, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Ed Kalman, 19 Calum Forrester, 20 Johnnie Beattie, 21 Murray McConnell, 22 Alex Dunbar, 23 Scott Wight..

Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Sean Brickell, Colin Kirkhouse (Wales)

Munster 29-11 Benetton Treviso

A strengthened Munster side gave their Pro12 play-off hopes a shot in the arm with a morale-boosting 29-11 win over Treviso at Thomond Park.

Munster suffered a demoralising 33-17 defeat away to Irish rivals Ulster last Friday but having made 10 changes Tony McGahan clearly expected a reaction from his troops.

And with skipper Paul O’Connell making only his fourth appearance of the season in the Pro12, McGahan had the perfect man to lead the revolt.

Treviso had begun the season searching for a first win away from Italian soil, and having already tasted success at both Ravenhill and the Sportsground, they were optimistic of a third Irish victory.

But after pushing the reigning champions hard in the first half, trailing just 10-6 at the break, tries from Keith Earls and James Coughlan proved too much for the Italians to overcome.

And Munster were even able to pick up a valuable bonus point with wing Simon Zebo crossing for a fourth try late on.

It was Treviso who came out of the blocks the quicker with Kris Burton, the architect of last week’s win over Aironi, slotting the first points after ten minutes.

Ronan O’Gara evened things up with a penalty of his own midway through the half before Niall Ronan dived over for the game’s opening try five minutes later.

O’Gara added the conversion but missing a penalty shot soon after, with a second Burton penalty making it a four-point game at the interval.

The home side scored their second try ten minutes into the second half when Earls pushed his claim for the Ireland outside centre jersey in the absence of Brian O’Driscoll by going over, O’Gara’s conversion making it 17-6.

Treviso responded immediately through Manoa Vosawai although Burton was this time off target with the conversion.
And with 17 minutes remaining Coughlan sealed the win with Munster’s third try, O’Gara’s conversion putting the home side out of sight.

Treviso had no answer and Zebo was then able to add the icing on the cake with his score closing the gap to the second-placed Ospreys to just a point in the Pro12 table.

The scorers:

For Munster:
Tries: Earls, Coughlan, Ronan, Zebo
Cons: O’Gara 3
Pen: O’Gara

For Benetton Treviso:
Try: Vosawai
Pens: Burton

The teams:

Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ronan O’Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Paul O’Connell (captain), 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O’Callaghan, 20 Tommy O’Donnell, 21 Tomas O’Leary, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Danny Barnes.

Treviso: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Brendan Williams, 10 Kristopher Burton, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Gonzalo Padrò, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Antonio Pavanello (captain), 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Michele Rizzo.
Replacements: 16 Diego Vidal, 17 Matteo Muccignat, 18 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 20 Enrico Pavanello, 21 Simon Picone, 22 Edoardo Gori, 23 Alberto Di Bernardo.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Michael Black, Kevin Beggs (both Ireland)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (Ireland)