Leinster labour but go top after big win over Scarlets

Leinster moved top of the BKT United Rugby Championship for the first time this season with a bonus-point victory over the Scarlets at the RDS.

But the scoreline flattered the hosts, who, after a fast start, suddenly turned sluggish and laboured past a gamey if limited Welsh outfit.

Leo Cullen's side still did manage eight tries without playing anywhere near their best.

The Scarlets, who had won just one of four coming into the fixture, put up a stubborn resistance, and the frustration will be Leinster’s.

With Leinster welcoming back a host of Ireland front-liners, including new co-captains Garry Ringrose and James Ryan, following their World Cup exploits, this was always going to be a huge ask of the Scarlets, who had won just one of nine previous meetings between the sides.

And less than 30 seconds into mission: nigh impossible they managed to make life even harder when centre Johnny Williams saw yellow for a tip tackle on Ringrose; it could have been red but a sin-binning was deemed sufficient by referee Hollie Davidson.

Their intent clear from the start, Leinster scored their first in the fourth minute after Ryan turned over the ball in the tackle in midfield and off they went.

Ringrose, Max Deegan, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park quickly played the ball before the out-half ran in for his first Leinster try.

Five minutes later they again had the chance to run from deep and after Jimmy O'Brien made yards on the flank the ball was recycled close to the Scarlets line and Gibson-Park's superb long pass found the Ireland wing who stepped inside Tomi Lewis to dot down.

Dwayne Peel’s side offered little resistance to this point and Deegan was on hand to grab Leinster’s third, barging over after Jordan Larmour