Leinster Rugby made it seven bonus-point wins from seven in the Guinness PRO14 with a 40-5 victory over Cardiff Blues at the RDS Arena on Sunday.
Despite a fast start which saw Dave Kearney dot down inside the opening minute for Leinster’s second-fastest PRO14 try ever, Leo Cullen’s side were made to work hard for their win.
After a fantastic chip-and-chase down the left wing saw Jimmy O’Brien run in for the province’s second, Cardiff struck back through Aled Summerhill to make it 14-5.
It was O’Brien again who put Leinster in a position to extend the lead before the break with a clever kick into the Cardiff 22 forcing the visitors to concede a lineout close to their line.
From there, James Tracy scored from the back of a lineout maul to make it 19-5 at the break.
Cardiff’s defence kept Leinster from claiming a bonus-point try until the 66th-minute when Scott Penny powered over.
Penny nabbed a second minutes later with another close-range finish, before Academy player Michael Silvester scored Leinster’s sixth and final try, and his first for the province.
Leinster travel to face Scarlets this Sunday, 29 November, in Round 8 of the Guinness PRO14 (KO 5.15pm, live on eir Sport & TG4).
