Leinster stay top of Magners

Leinster maintained pole position in the Magners League with a 20-14 win over Glasgow at the RDS on Thursday.

Leinster maintained pole position in the Magners League with a 20-14 win over Glasgow at the RDS on Thursday.

Centre Fergus McFadden collected 15 points with a try, two conversions and two penalties, while full-back Girvan Dempsey chipped in with the other try as Michael Cheika's side secured their eighth straight win in all competitions.
A try from Hefin O'Hare briefly nudged Glasgow ahead and while Leinster hit back to claim a 20-7 half-time lead,
replacement Colin Gregor salvaged a losing bonus point for the visitors with a second-half try and conversion.
Having gone 3-0 down to a McFadden penalty, Glasgow responded well and although Ruaridh Jackson failed to convert a penalty chance, they took the lead by the quarter-hour mark.
Winger O'Hare caught a clearance from Paul O'Donoghue and launched a superb counter attack, side-stepping the Leinster cover on the way to the line. Jackson tagged on the conversion but Leinster seized control for the remainder of the opening half.
The unerring McFadden landed his second penalty to cut the deficit and then powered over for a 23rd-minute try following a neat offload from man of the match Isa Nacewa.
McFadden converted and a second try followed for the hosts on the stroke of half-time, with replacement Eoin Sheriff stealing a Warriors' lineout to launch a swift attack which ended with Dempsey crossing in the corner.
McFadden brilliantly converted to push the European champions 13 points ahead, and it turned out to be a crucial kick as the home side failed to score in the second period.
Missing a host of internationals, Leinster struggled to maintain their high standards and Glasgow, equally shorn of their frontline players, came more and more into the game.
They missed a couple of try-scoring chances before Gregor crashed over in the corner in the 67th minute and converted his try to make it a six-point game.
Leinster almost provided an immediate response when O'Donoghue fed Michael Keating but he was hauled down just metres short of the line.

The scorers:

For Leinster:
Tries: McFadden, Dempsey
Cons: McFadden 2
Pens: McFadden 2

For Glasgow:
Tries: O'Hare, Gregor
Cons: Horne, Gregor

Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Simon Keogh, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Paul O'Donohoe, 8 Stephen Keogh, 7 Paul Ryan, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Bernard Jackman (capt), 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Stan Wright, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Eoin Sheriff, 20 Chris Keane, 21 Ian Madigan, 22 Michael Keating.

Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Hefin O'Hare, 13 Peter Murchie, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Mark McMillan(c), 8 Richie Vernon, 7 Calum Forrester, 6 James Eddie, 5 Daniel Turner, 4 Tim Barker, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Fergus Thomson, 17 Moray Low, 18 Rob Harley, 19 Chris Fusaro, 20 Colin Gregor, 21 Dave McCall, 22 Chris Kinloch.

Referee:Nigel Owens (WRU)