RaboDirect PRO12: Leinster do the double by beating Ulster 24-18
Leinster gave Joe Schmidt the perfect farewell as they beat Ulster 24-18 to win the RaboDirect PRO12 title.
Last Updated: 26/05/13 12:12pm
Jonathan Sexton, playing his final match for Leinster before moving to Racing Metro, scored 14 points as Leinster claimed the crown for the first time since 2008 and ended three successive final defeats.
Kiwi Schmidt, who will take over the Ireland job later this year, departs with a domestic and European double - eight days on from his side's Amlin Challenge Cup triumph.
Ulster contributed fully to a tense final, Ruan Pienaar kicking all their points, but tries in each half from Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip - plus rock solid defence - got Leinster over the line.
Ulster leaked four penalties in the opening seven minutes as Leinster raced into an early 10-0 lead, Sexton converting man-of-the-match Jennings' try - the flanker bulldozed over by his fellow forwards - and adding an easy penalty.
Ulster, with Tommy Bowe prominent, fought back and on 24 Pienaar curled over a penalty, then added another in between two from Sexton as Leinster turned around 16-6 up.
Worse followed for the vocal Ulster support when flanker Robbie Diack saw yellow for another ruck offence, the resulting penalty seeing Sexton strengthen Leinster's advantage.
Superb break
Back came Ulster again, a superb break from Paddy Jackson leading to Isa Nacewa being sin-binned for pulling back the young Ireland star by his collar.
Pienaar pulled back three with his trusty boot and the Springbok converted two more penalties - the first after a brilliant kick-chase by Bowe - and suddenly Ulster were just 19-15 down.
But then came the killer blow. Sexton found a terrific touch from a penalty and when the ball was worked infield in a series of phases, Heaslip, with the support of the towering Devin Toner, powered over from close range.
Pienaar cut the deficit by three - and within a converted try - with a monster effort with just 10 nervy minutes left.
But unlike a year ago against the Ospreys, Leinster did not falter late on and a second piece of silverware for the season was theirs.
