Updated at 22.36
LEINSTER EARNED A hard-fought 26-19 win over the Newport Gwent Dragons in the RaboDirect Pro12 at Rodney Parade this evening.
Sean Cronin got two tries in the first ten minutes to establish a comfortable lead, before a further two tries from Dave Kearney sealed their win.
Ian Madigan also kicked three conversions to make the victory safe.
Their opponents though, did enough to pick up a losing bonus point, with Ieuan and Steffan Jones each scoring tries, while the latter also kicked two penalties and a drop goal.
It was Leinster’s eighth consecutive win and consolidates their place in the top four of the Pro12 table.
Meanwhile, two late kicks from Dan Parks – a drop goal and a penalty – helped Connacht to a closely-fought 23-19 win over Zebre at the Sportsground.
Tries from Eoin McKeon and Gavin Duffy gave the home side a 14-3 lead, but a Leonardo Sarto try inspired a Zebre comeback that left them within a point of their opponents at half-time.
In the second half, in addition to further penalties from Parks and Paolo Buso, a Gonzalo Garcia penalty put the visitors ahead with just over five minutes remaining.
However, Parks’ late show enabled Connacht to prevail marginally.
