Three tries in six second-half minutes turned a competitive contest into a routine Leinster rout in the BKT United Rugby Championship at the DAM Health Stadium on Saturday evening.

It was Leinster’s 15th straight victory in the competition and it came after a torrid early period in which they went behind.

In a terrific opening, Leinster looked likely to cause problems when Harry Byrne was nailed by Mark Bennett, prompting a counter in which the final pass to Wes Goosen was wayward.

The flow of traffic from Edinburgh stressed Leinster’s defence for a penalty when Michael Ala’Alatoa was slow to roll away at a ruck.

The home side opted to go to the corner and a 5-metre lineout where the visitors conceded two more penalties, Viliame Mata denied a try by Luke McGrath’s low tackle.

Scrum-half McGrath was called on again to bring down Marshall Sykes, the recycle coming quickly enough for Ben Vellacott to put Emiliano Boffelli over in the eighth minute.

The Irish province reacted in impressive fashion, Jordan Larmour and Scott Penny popping up in multiple phases as Max Deegan punched in the try, converted by Harry Byrne.

Edinburgh went direct on the next foray forward, loose-head Boan Venter smashing through for the try, converted by Boffelli in the 15th minute.

Number eight Mata temporarily left for a HIA just before a Leinster offside led to a Boffelli penalty for 15-7 in the 20th minute.

The dexterity of Jamie Osborne was picking the Scots apart and Dave Kearney’s kick was shepherded to safety by Luke Crosbie.

On the next drive, Leinster pressure forced a 5-metre penalty which was turned into seven points by a beautifully designed trick play, Penny striking and Byrne converting.

The sleight of hand by Deegan allowed full-back Ciarán Frawley to send Kearney flying through a hole.

Liam Turner maintained the momentum from Kearney’s offload, setting Michael Milne up to pounce from close range, Byrne’s conversion confirming a 21-15 lead at the halfway point.

Edinburgh were encouraged by the failure of Leinster to cope with back-to-back garryowens, moving into the wide channels where they lost possession.

McGrath and Larmour took the ball on at pace and Osborne’s crossfield kick was miraculously grounded by Kearney in the 43rd minute.

The ability of Mata to keep the ball alive sucked in defenders, leaving room on the outside for Boffelli to put down his second try, reducing the difference to 26-20 in the 48th minute.

The patience of Leinster close to glory was clear and present, the hard carries enabling Ross Molony to assist loose-head Milne in grabbing his second try, converted by Byrne for 33-20 in the 53rd minute.

A swinging attack in which Kearney’s offloaded superbly to Turner ended with Alaalatoa cashing in for Byrne to curl over the conversion.

The men in All White were in the mood, Larmour looming again before the ball was shifted left for Penny to use Kearney as a decoy in cutting through for his second seven-pointer, a third try in six minutes by the 59th minute.

A ridiculous skip-two pass by Byrne sent Kearney down the tramline to prompt another sustained attack which was undermined by poor handling.

Then, Penny lost control of the ball forward, causing Charlie Tector’s try to be rubbed out, and Brian Deeny’s excellence on the floor forced a penalty.

It could not keep Edinburgh away for too much longer. Sam Skinner powered to the line for a fourth try and a losing bonus point.