A youthful Leinster team maintained their BKT United Rugby Championship table-topping form with a 38-14 win over Cardiff at the RDS.
Luke McGrath scored two tries in a 10-minute spell, adding to Max Deegan's opener, as Leo Cullen's much-changed side led 19-0 at half-time.
Cardiff struggled to get going in greasy conditions, a Jason Harries yellow card being swiftly followed by Brian Deeny's 49th-minute bonus-point score.
Cardiff had two late scores from replacements Rory Thornton and Kristian Dacey, in response to a Max O'Reilly effort, but the hosts had the final say when Liam Turner capitalised on a loose pass from Ellis Bevan.
Despite the returning Rey Lee-Lo landing a thumping tackle on Harry Byrne, Leinster took a sixth-minute lead through their industrious forwards.
Having been held up short moments later, number eight Deegan powered over for an unconverted try following John McKee's tapped penalty and an inviting pass from Scott Penny.
Max Deegan's early try has Leinster in front against Cardiff
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) January 28, 2023
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McKee and Deegan again gained ground, midway through the first half, before a slick penalty move saw Byrne release McGrath to make it 12-0.
A Jarrod Evans spill spoiled a promising attack for Cardiff, while their pillar defence went missing when McGrath sniped over from a 29th-minute ruck. Byrne converted.
Leinster are cruising in the first half as they pick apart Cardiff for a second try scored by Luke McGrath
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) January 28, 2023
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Turner's barnstorming break - off a Ben Brownlee offload - kept Leinster on the front foot in the second half, and further pressure saw Cardiff winger Harries binned for a deliberate knock-on.
Second row Deeny then drove over with support from Deegan, Byrne's conversion widening the margin to 26 points. James Botham was busy at the breakdown for Cardiff but for little reward.
Instead Leinster went further in front before the hour mark, Chris Cosgrave's looping pass putting fellow Academy back O'Reilly over in the right corner.
Leinster have picked up where they left off early in the second with Brian Deeny scoring the bonus-point try against Cardiff
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) January 28, 2023
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Cardiff finally built momentum off a Harries run, and from a subsequent penalty, Botham was hauled down short before Thornton plunged over for Evans to convert.
Liam Turner's late try put the icing on the cake for Leinster as they beat Cardiff 38-14 to make it 13 wins from 13 in the #URC this season#RTERugby #LEIvCAR @RTE2 @RTEplayer pic.twitter.com/wV20F7a3cz
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) January 28, 2023
Corey Domachowski's eye-catching break led to a close-range seven-pointer from Dacey, yet a sidestepping Turner took Leinster's try haul to six. Replacement Charlie Tector converted for his first points at this level.
"It's a pretty good feeling"
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) January 28, 2023
Leinster's Player of the Match Max Deegan reacts to their dominant win over Cardiff #URC #RTERugby #LEIvCAR pic.twitter.com/WPzYQ0gazH
"It's more the experience that guys are getting is probably the most pleasing"
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) January 28, 2023
Leo Cullen on Leinster's #URC win over Cardiff to make it 13 victories from 13 so far this season#RTERugby #LEIvCAR pic.twitter.com/T3kTzXD69k
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