Leinster - 35 The Borders - 12 Leinster last night ended a seven-game losing streak, which stretched back to their European exit at the hands of Biarritz in January. In truth, they hardly had to break sweat against an abysmally poor Borders side.
The scoreline reflects the gulf between the sides but it was only reached via two late tries from full back James Norton and the kicking of Brian O'Meara. The defence still looked suspect, while the injuries continued to mount.
First blood went to the visitors by way of a try from prop Craig Dunlea. Samoan international Semo Sititi brought play into the Leinster half, Kevin Utterson kept the move alive and Gary Armstrong looked set to score only for the presence of David Blaney. It mattered little. Two phases later they were over.
Gareth Morton missed a straightforward conversion. It proved costly as within a minute O'Meara had reduced the deficit with his first of three penalties.
Then in a five-minute period Leinster crossed for two tries, Brendan Burke, in the corner, and Niall Ronan dotting down.
Christian Warner was found wanting eight minutes before the break when he missed a tackle on Jono Stuart, leaving him with a path to the line.
Another O'Meara penalty left it 20-12 at the break and his third came early in the second half.
Unfortunately for coach Gary Ella, the injury count spiralled. Before last night, 11 players were on the treatment table. At half-time Warner was pulled with a strained hamstring and John McWeeney and John Lyne were also forced to retire.
Borders helped Leinster's cause with outhalf Clark Laidlaw and Stuart sin-binned.
Norton delivered the sparkle late on with two tries out wide, after good final deliveries from Matt Leek and James Downey.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 16 mins: C Dunlea try, 0-5; 18: B O'Meara pen, 3-5; 24: B Burke try, 8-5; O'Meara conv, 10-5; 29: N Ronan try, 15-5; O'Meara conv, 17-5; 32: J Stuart try, 17-10, G Morton conv, 17-12; 36: O'Meara pen, 20-12. Half-time: 20-12. 50: O'Meara pen, 23-12, 70: J Norton try, 28-12; O'Meara conv, 30-12; 77: Norton try, 35-12.
LEINSTER: J Norton; J McWeeney, G Brown, C Warner, B Burke; F Contepomi, B O'Meara; J Lyne, D Blaney, P Coyle; C Potts, B Gissing; A McCullen, N Ronan, D Dillon. Replacements: M Leek for Warner (half-time); J Downey for McWeeney, J Moran for Lyne (both 53 mins); A Kearney for Potts (67 mins); S Crawford for McCullen, B Blaney for D Blaney (both 76 mins); B O'Riordan for O'Meara (78 mins).
THE BORDERS: G Morton; C Murray, J Stuart, K Utterson, C Moir; C Laidlaw, G Armstrong; C Dunlea, S Scott, G Cross; D Weir, C Stewart; S MacLeod, A Rennick, S Sititi. Replacements: S Cranston for Utterson (53 mins); K Todd for Craig (63 mins); A Davidson for Weir, J Danziel for Sititi (both 73 mins); I Fairley for Armstrong (83 mins).
Referee: N Ballard (Wales).
