The clinical nature of Leinster’s finishing derailed Dragons in this BKT United Rugby Championship tie at The RDS on Saturday night.

The League leaders were able to stretch their cushion to twelve points with their 10th bonus-point win from all 14 played.

Leinster snapped into action almost immediately, coming forward in waves for Dave Kearney to go close and Harry Byrne to go all the way through the tackle of Brodie Coghlan, Byrne converting in the fifth minute.

The Welsh club had to slow down the speed of what was happening in front of them, using the scrum to take the heat out of Leinster’s attack.

However, an offload from Jamie Osborne released Liam Turner through the middle, a convoy of cleaners arriving to clean the ball only for Ross Molony to be penalised for a double movement on the floor.

A rush defence, led by Jack Dixon, closed down the space forcing Luke McGrath to pump the ball forward where Will Reed returned it with interest.

A period of keep ball by Dragons produced an offside decision which out-half Reed could not turn into three points.

At least, they were playing in the right part of the field, Jordan Larmour coming away on the counter as Reed looked to engineer a breakthrough with Ross Moriarty prominent.

There were two prime attacking lineouts that came to nothing and another that was stolen by Michael Milne at the tail.

It wasn’t long before scrum-half McGrath was sprinting away for the second try for Byrne to convert in the

Finally, Dragons took advantage of the wind from a smooth lineout, transitioning onto the front-foot for scrum-half Rhodri Williams to snip for the try, converted by Reed.

In typical fashion, Leinster wrestled back control from a McGrath burst, Scott Penny breaking in behind and Rhys Ruddock’s line in support for the third try for 19-7 in the 35th minute.

McGrath cut loose again and Brian Deeny opted to hold the ball rather than risk a pass, the continuity good enough for Harry Byrne to grab his second try and his third conversion for 26-7 at half-time.

The electric Larmour didn’t have to be asked twice to exploit a lack of numbers on the short side, evading the desperate lunge from Ashton Hewitt for the fifth try.

The visitors did not sit back, driving forward as they had done for much of the first-half, rounding up 19 phases without breaking the thick Blue line.

Hooker Coghlan, Taine Basham and JJ Hanrahan all had good moments, just not in tandem with others.

It was time for Leinster to introduce no less than six players, including second-row Jason Jenkins and, on his debut, loose-head prop Jack Boyle.

The cohesion suffered a touch and Dragons used this to their advantage, the mercurial Hanrahan scooting through a gap to claim a fine try, converted by the Munsterman for 31-14 in the 64th minute.

The energy of the Welshmen ensured a competitive edge into the final quarter as they pushed the pace against resolute defence.

Then, Jimmy O’Brien broke out a party piece on the counter and replacement Lee Barron was the link to Rob Russell to pick up his eighth try of the season for Charlie Tector to convert in the 73rd minute.

Keen to get in on the action, Tector was in the right place at the right time, poaching a try on full-time from Barron’s brilliant turnover.