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22

2019 Leinster Show Champions’ Mettle To

29th,

May Retain PRO14 Crown In Glasgow

|
EXAMINER Dgiven the honour
flanker
eparting
Sean O’Brien was

of lifting the GUINNESS
IRISH PRO14 trophy as
Leinster were crowned
back-to-back champions
after edging out Glasgow
Warriors 18-15 in a
closely-fought final at
Celtic Park.
After conceding the
game’s opening try to Matt
Fagerson, Luke McGrath’s
charge-down allowed Garry
Ringrose to quickly respond
and man-of-the-match Cian
Healy’s muscular 27th-
minute try steered Leo
Cullen’s men towards a 15-
10 half-time lead in wet con-
ditions.
Captain Jonathan Sexton
added to his first half penalty
with a 51st-minute strike
while Glasgow center Kyle Sean O’Brien is pictured lifting the GUINNESS PRO14 trophy as Leinster celebrate at the home of Celtic Football Club (INPHO/Billy Stickland)
Steyn was in the sin-bin. Rob line. Leinster scrambled were clawed back in swift down another marker by Leinster defense when a
Kearney also saw yellow dur- well, though, and Sexton’s fashion thanks to the alert- tackling van der Merwe into mistimed challenge for a
ing the final quarter, and early penalty miss let Fraser ness of McGrath and touch to signal half-time. high ball saw Kearney take
although the Warriors hit Brown off the hook for not Ringrose. The scrum half Handling conditions out his opposite number
back with a Grant Stewart releasing the tackler. blocked Hogg’s attempted worsened on the resump- Hogg with 15 minutes
try with six minutes left, A deflected clearance kick clearance from the restart tion, although Robbie remaining.
Leinster’s workhorse pack from James Lowe almost and Ringrose rushed in to Henshaw was growing in Despite losing their full-
sealed the deal with an turned into a dangerous touch down the loose ball as influence as he found a good back to the bin, Leinster,
impressive late spell of ball break from deep as Rhys it spun towards the right cor- touch on the right and then who previously won back-to-
retention. Ruddock flicked the ball back ner. Sexton missed the diffi- popped up with a strip in the back PRO14 crowns in 2013
A PRO14 final record to Ringrose and he linked cult conversion but Leinster tackle. His center partner and 2014, held firm with
attendance of 47,128 with Sexton as Cullen’s side were on the board, 15 min- Ringrose and Lowe pounced Ringrose and Henshaw hold-
watched Leinster end the suddenly flooded forward. utes into this end-to-end on a loose pass to launch a ing up Steyn to win vital pos-
season with their sixth However, Sexton’s short encounter. thrilling 50-meter break session back for the title
PRO14 title, moving them pass was knocked on by the A Hastings penalty goal which ended with Steyn not holders.
two clear of the Ospreys. A otherwise accurate Jack rewarded an initial break by rolling away deep in his 22 A wheeled scrum resulted
total of 57 players were used Conan, who was part of an Steyn, with Jordan Larmour and earning a yellow card. in a clearing penalty for
by the province as they excellent back row trio and Ringrose doubling up to Glasgow held out after Sexton, and as Cullen
topped Conference B and alongside Ruddock and Josh deny van der Merwe a possi- Leinster went for the corner unloaded his bench, the
saw off the play-off chal- van der Flier. ble try. Trailing 10-5, and a lineout maul, only for blue-clad pack ate up time on
lenges of arch rivals Munster As the tempo increased, Leinster upped the ante Harley to infringe closer to Kearney’s yellow by putting
and fellow table toppers Glasgow showed the form through their pack as the posts and Sexton’s place- their noses to the grindstone
Glasgow. from their semi-final victory Glasgow adjusted to the kick put eight points and carrying through 20-plus
With home city advantage over Ulster with a well-craft- unfortunate injury-enforced between the sides. The out- phases.
and the backing of a very ed 13th-minute try. It was a loss of hooker Brown. The half’s brilliantly-weighted A relieving penalty and
vocal crowd, Glasgow quick- forwards-inspired effort as Heineken Champions Cup kick then forced Glasgow to Huw Jones’ decibel-raising
ly bared their teeth in attack second row Jonny Gray stole runners-up went through the play from behind their try- break got the Scots back in
as Steyn and Exeter Chiefs- a lineout, Scott Cummings phases before Healy pow- line and Henshaw and James contention, their quick pass-
bound full-back Stuart Hogg carried hard to give them ered over through Rob Ryan rushed in to bring ing putting replacement
found space in the defensive momentum amid a flurry of Harley’s attempted tackle down Callum Gibbins and hooker Stewart over in the
carries and close to the line. force a five-meter scrum. right corner. Hastings
number 8 Leinster’s scrum got the Amid a series of reset missed the conversion on the
F a g e r s o n upper hand, setting up a long scrums, Leinster turned near side, though, and
picked and range penalty which Sexton down a kickable penalty and Leinster’s defense kept the
crashed over nailed for a 15-10 advantage Glasgow - and the home fans three-point gap in place,
with Adam with his best kick of the final. - breathed a collective sigh of forcing a final knock-on
Hastings con- Glasgow continued to look relief when McGrath before they wound down the
verting. lively in attack, attempting knocked on at the base of a clock and Ross Byrne’s
Five of to create opportunities for subsequent ruck. The pres- touchfinder sparked jubilant
those points their backs, but Larmour laid sure was back on the celebrations. C