Leinster and Ulster claimed their second wins of the Heineken Cup with respective victories at Donnybrook and Ravenhill this evening. Leinster registered a 28-9 win over Newcastle, while Ulster defeated Wasps 42-19.
In Donnybrook, Matt Williams' side ran in four tries during the course of the game, but saw Newcastle put up stubborn resistance before eventually succumbing to wave after wave of Leinster attack. Crucially, the score that eased the pressure on the home team came when Newcastle flanker Richard Arnold was sitting in the sin bin with his side only seven points adrift.
Johnny Wilkinson opened the scoring with an early penalty but Nathan Spooner cancelled that out with two penalties within a six-minute period. Gordon Darcy finished off a move which involved quick hands from Spooner and O'Driscoll to score the game's opening try in the 15th minute, with the score remaining 11-3 up to half-time.
Eric Miller's early converted second half try eased the pressure on Leinster but two penalties from the boot of Wilkinson brought his side right back into the game. The issue was in doubt until a penalty try was awarded five minutes from time after Leinster pressure from a five metre scrum. The scoring was complete when man of the match Brian O'Driscoll scored Leinster's fourth try deep into injury time.
Meanwhile, Ulster's David Humphreys broke the Heineken Cup points scoring record this evening when he scored 37 points of his team's 42 point total against Wasps at Ravenhill. After having trailed at the break, Ulster took complete control in the second half to run out 42-19 winners, leaving Wasps on the brink of an early exit.
In the other Heineken Cup ties this evening, Llanelli defeated Perpignan, while Edinburgh drew with Biarritz six points apiece.
Filed by Tom Grealis
