Leinster squeak past Treviso

 

The Irish side may be out of this year's title race but Friday's victory over the Italians means Leinster have secured European qualification.

 

Leinster's last defeat at the hands of Italian opposition was in September 2010 and to be truthful they never looked like losing that record on Friday.

 

Despite the slender nature of their victory, the Irish province dominated the game and it only took Heaslip's early try to wrap up the points at the RDS Arena.

 

Leinster piled on the pressure in the first quarter but Treviso held firm, desperate to avoid their sixth consecutive defeat in the league.

 

But the Italians could do nothing when Heaslip picked the ball up from the scrum and drove over the line for his side's first try of the game.

 

Ian Madigan added the extras to give the Irish province a 7-0 lead and a much-needed boost in confidence after defeat against rivals Ulster last time out.

 

Treviso could have reduced the deficit minutes later when Rob Kearney was penalised for not releasing the ball but Jayden Hayward kicked the penalty wide.

 

Great combination work from Jordi Murphy and Kearney out wide almost resulted in Leinster extending that lead but Treviso again knocked them back.

 

An unconvincing first half from Leinster was topped off when Madigan missed a late penalty meaning the score remained 7-0 at the interval.

 

Leinster made the better start to the second half, with Jimmy Gopperth feeding the ball out wide to Heaslip but the No.8 knocked the ball on as he attempted to offload.

 

The Irish province enjoyed the bulk of possession but Treviso's defence proved to be stubborn and Hayward might have put the Italians' first points on the board if the wind hadn't blown his penalty wide.

 

It was a largely uneventful second half, with Treviso seeming to accept they were on their way to yet another defeat in the Pro12.

 

The Italians' only victory on the road in the league this season came when they visited Zebre in December but they would have been happy to take away a bonus losing point from the RDS.

 

Those plans were scuppered late on though when Gopperth converted a penalty to leave the score 10-0 at the final whistle. 

 

 

Try: Heaslip

Con: Madigan

Pen: Gopperth

 

none

 

 

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Zane Kirchner, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Ian Madigan, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip (captian), 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Jordi Murphy, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Jack McGrath.

Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Gordon D'Arcy, 23 Darragh Fanning.

 

Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Nicola Cattina, 6 Paul Derbyshire, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Davide Giazzon,1 Matteo Zanusso.

Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Romulo Acosta, 18 Salesi Manu, 19 Meyer Swanepoel, 20 Francesco Minto, 21 Marco Lazzaroni, 22 Angelo Esposito, 23 James Ambrosini.

 

Referee: Leighton Hodges

Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Ken Imbusch

TMO: Jude Quinn