RaboDirect PRO12: Leinster come from behind to beat Scarlets 42-19
Leinster came from behind to earn a 42-19 bonus-point victory over the Scarlets in their RaboDirect PRO12 season opener.
Last Updated: 09/09/13 9:32am
Five tries from prop Martin Moore, number eight Jordy Murphy, replacement Darren Hudson, Dave Kearney and outside-half Jimmy Gopperth, who supplied a total of 22 points, saw Leinster recover from being 13-0 down.
For the Scarlets centre Steven Shingler provided 14 points with their one try coming from captain Rob McCusker, but they were unable to take advantage of the fact that their opponents had Kearney, Hudson and Jack McGrath all sin-binned.
It was the hosts who had much the better of the first half to lead 16-10 at
the interval. They were indebted to Shingler who put over two penalties in the opening seven minutes.
The Scarlets impressive opening continued as McCusker went over under the posts for the first try although he did not appear to ground the ball properly.
Leinster come on strong
At that stage the Welsh region looked in control, but Leinster responded with a soft try which came from a drive at a line-out with prop Martin Moore claiming
the score.
Gopperth, making his league debut for Leinster, added the conversion and followed that up with a penalty to close the gap to only three points before the Scarlets took a six point lead into the second half with a third Shingler penalty.
But it was all Leinster after the break starting with a try for Murphy only 52
seconds into the half with Gopperth's conversion putting the Irish province in the lead for the first time at 17-16.
Gopperth and Shingler swapped penalties before Leinster ended the match with 22 unanswered points with tries in quick succession for Hudson and Gopperth killing the contest.
McGrath and Gareth Owen were sin-binned before Leinster rounded off their comprehensive win with a try for Kearney in the right corner, converted by Gopperth.