Doris takes the honours as Leinster floor Munster

By DARAGH SMALL

Munster …………19pts

Tries: de Allende 63 Conversions: Carbery 64 Penalties: Carbery 13, 21, 28, 38

Leinster …………34pts

Tries: Ringrose 16, Lowe 48, 75; O'Brien 58 Conversions: R Byrne 59 Penalties: R Byrne 9, 26, 43, 55

IRELAND flanker Caelan Doris starred and the five-in-a-rowchasing Leinster claimed a bonus point URC win against Munster at Thomond Park.

Leinster were on the back of a thumping 45-8 win away to Connacht last weekend and this was another comprehensive victory over an interprovincial rival, as Leinster turn their focus back to Connacht in the Champions Cup next Friday.

“Delighted to get the win, it was incredibly tough. It went down to the last ten minutes and they, as usual, put up a great fight but delighted with the outcome,” said Doris.

It was the perfect evening for a derby in Limerick and Leinster went ahead in the ninth minute when Ross Byrne scored a penalty but Joey Carbery replied.

The first try arrived in the 16th minute after a smart lineout move from the visitors resulted in James Lowe, below, finding himself in acres of room down the left. Leinster went through the phases and Doris was stopped short, the ball was recycled and Garry Ringrose scored.

Ross Byrne missed the conversion but notched another penalty only for three Carbery efforts to give Munster a 12-11 advantage by the 38th minute.

Leinster still took a 14-12 lead into half-time after Byrne's third penalty and they scored their second try eight minutes after the restart. Lowe was the scorer this time around, when he got on the end of Robbie Henshaw's pass after another bulldozing run from Doris.

Another Byrne penalty put Leinster out of sight and then some marvellous hands in midfield gave Jimmy O'Brien the chance out wide and he finished brilliantly.

Johann van Graan eventually opted for his young guns and one of those, Ben Healy, gave the pass to Damien de Allende for his 63rd minute effort. Carbery slotted the extras but

Leinster came again with Lowe scoring his second try in the 75th minute.