Leinster rack up nine tries in Benetton demolition

Leinster reclaimed top spot in the United Rugby Championship with a 61-17 thrashing of Benetton in Treviso. Ulster's big win against Cardiff on Friday night saw them edge ahead of Leo Cullen's men in the overall table but the latter ran in nine tries to claw their way back to the summit with a four-point margin. Max Deegan, Sean Cronin, Jordan Larmour and Ross Byrne earned Leinster a bonus point by half-time, with a single penalty from Rhyno Smith the only response Benetton could muster before the interval. The hosts did touch down twice in the second half but Cronin's second and two tries each for James Tracy and Jimmy O'Brien saw Leinster to a comfortable victory, with Byrne also kicking 14 points. Deegan powered over from close range for Leinster's first try after a totally dominant opening five minutes. Byrne added the extras before Smith got Benetton off the mark with a relatively straightforward penalty seven minutes later. The visitors eventually added their second try when Cronin went over from a driving maul. Byrne's conversion made it 14-3 after 24 minutes and he was on target again when a third try quickly followed - Larmour exploiting a gap in the Benetton defence to go over. Leinster had their bonus point by half-time thanks to a fantastic team try initiated by a rapid counter-attack from Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien and Larmour, with Byrne eventually applying the finish and converting for a 28-3 scoreline at the break.

Cronin emerged from another line-out maul to cross for his second try seven minutes into the second half, again converted by Byrne, but Benetton went over when second-row Nicola Piantella picked up from the back of a ruck and darted for the line. Smith's conversion took the hosts into double