Leinster score 11 tries in Ospreys rout to secure second place in the URC

Leinster scored 11 tries, with a hat-trick from Joe McCarthy, as they demolished the Ospreys 68-14 at the Aviva Stadium to secure second place in the United Rugby Championship.

The home side made a strong start with two tries inside the opening seven minutes. Joe McCarthy barged over under the posts from close range before Max Deegan went through following a drive from a line-out, and Harry Byrne successfully landed both conversions for a 14-0 lead.

Leinster continued their momentum as flanker Josh van der Flier touched down after being picked out on the overlap by Jack Conan before Jimmy O’Brien then ran clear to secure a bonus-point try in the 23rd minute.

Osprey finally stemmed the flow just after the half-hour mark when Huw Sutton crashed over from Rhys Davies’ offload, but the Irish province still took a comfortable 28-7 lead into half-time.

Leinster then took the game away from the Ospreys with a ruthless second half. Garry Ringrose ran in, winger Jordan Larmour then chasing down a kick through before McCarthy powered across in the 56th minute.

Larmour added another try just before the hour, running in from his own half, with McCarthy completing his hat-trick and James Lowe scoring from wide for his 69th Leinster try to tie the club record. Ospreys got a late scant consolation try from Dan Edwards.

A bonus-point win to wrap up the regular season