Leinster went four points clear at the top of the Magners League on Thursday evening as the Glasgow Warriors were beaten 20-14 at the RDS.
Fergus McFadden was the star for Leinster, who failed to score in the second half but had already seen tries from McFadden and Girvan Dempsey and some fine kicked scores from the former. Hefin O’Hare and Colin Gregor were the players to cross the line for the visitors.
McFadden was not long in kicking Leinster into a three-point lead, but they were later pegged back as O’Hare went over in the 17th minute after magnificently embarking from the halfway line and dodging his way past four Leinster men.
Ruaridh Jackson converted that score to put Glasgow four points clear, but within two minutes that lead was one as McFadden knocked over his second successful penalty.
The 23-year-old used the night to add to his growing reputation as he continued to take charge of the Leinster scoring, collecting a crossfield ball from Isa Nacewa and making his way over the Warriors’ line.
He then converted his own score and he was on hand to do the same for Dempsey just before half-time after the experienced full back added a second Leinster try. The home side got the better of a Glasgow line-out and Dempsey profited after the ball was stolen at the front and he shot clear.
Glasgow needed to dig deep after the break as they brought on several replacements and did have a crack.
They were rewarded somewhat when Gregor made a great evasive run to breach the Leinster defence and then convert his own try with 12 minutes to play.
However, Leinster held on and are four points clear of Munster, Glasgow and Edinburgh at the top of the league.