Leinster pull clear of Benetton to regain top spot in URC

Leinster have gone back to the top of the BKT United Rugby Championship, as they pulled clear late on against this season's surprise package Benetton.

Leo Cullen’s side were ran in seven tries in their 47-18 win against the Italians, but that score doesn’t do the visitors justice, with their second team well in touch of Leinster for 60 minutes at the RDS.

While both sides were depleted due to the Six Nations, Leinster have always been better placed to deal with it. Eleven of Italy’s matchday squad last week against Ireland came from the Treviso club, with only two of them available for selection at the RDS this week. In other seasons, the Benetton seconds would have been hockeyed in this fixture.

The visitors gave Leinster an early scare when Ignacio Mendy ran in for a try after just two minutes, while his second try late in the first half, which was followed up by a penalty for Jacob Umaga, left Leinster just three points ahead at half-time.

Scott Penny, Luke McGrath and Liam Turner had all crossed for first half tries for the hosts, with Turner’s the pick of the bunch as he charged onto a pass from Tommy O’Brien to finish a wonderful first-phase move.

Ross Byrne returned from his arm injury with a composed performance, kicking four of his five conversions, while showing some lovely touches in open play, particularly with a pair of crossfield kicks to set up Jason Jenkins for the bonus-point try early in the second half.

Jamie Osborne continued to flourish, and was unlucky not to get a try of his own, with the centre held up just short of the line inside the final 10 minutes, before Brian Deeny followed up to make sure of the score.

Deeny’s try, and the final touchdown from Penny, put some gloss on an otherwise competitive