Scarlets 25-15 Dragons
The Scarlets extended their winning streak to six after a win at home to the Dragons.The scoreline very much reflects the overall game as the Dragons never looked in a position to take the lead.
Both sides had a rocky start, the poor weather conditions heavily influenced the ball play. James Davies was awarded a try in the 9th minute after a look from the TMO. Aled Thomas converted.
Scarlets kept the pressure up from the restart. The Dragon’s defence was pulled was left exposed out wide leaving room for Phil John to cross the line, this time with Thomas failing to convert.
The Dragons finally got points on the board with a penalty from Jason Tovey in the 24th minute but a second attempt several minutes later came off the upright.
Tovey made up for the miss four minutes before half-time, darting over for a try. He couldn’t bridge the gap further though as he sent the conversion wide.
No score came until eight minutes into the second half with a kick at goal from Thomas, pushing the Scarlets further into the lead.
A yellow card for Adam Hughes did little to help the Dragons, giving Phil John a second chance at a try.
James Davies also got a second in the 65th minute to consolidate the home side win.
A consolation try in the 71st minute from Sarel Pretorius made little effect on the outcome and a final missed kick from Tovey saw the games last chance for the Dragons to close the gap.
Scarlets hold out on top while the Dragons stay put at eight.
Munster 32-28 Ulster
Munster held on to take the win. Both teams had players returning from the World Cup to treat fans to a great match of rugby in a nine try game.
Craig Gilroy wasted no time getting the scoring underway with a 3rd minute try but Paddy Jackson missed his first kick of the Pro12 to leave it a five point try.
With 15 minutes gone, Munster were dominating but still had no points on the board. Andrew Conway soon rectified this with a try in the 17th minute and Keatley added the extra points to put Munster in front.
Jackson finally found the posts in the 20th minute to give Ulster back a narrow lead.
Gilroy ran in his second try of the night after a patient build up from Ulster but Jackson failed to convert.
Munster quickly went on the attack from the restart. An offload from Simon Zebo into the hands of Robin Copeland who went over the whitewash from 10 metres out. The successful conversion from Keatley put Munster back in front.
Munster didn’t sit back as Gerhard Van Den Heever left Andrew Trimble for dead to touch down the 5th try of the game in the 33rd minute.
Ulster went over the line one more time before the half from a rolling maul in the hands of Nick Williams but Jackson hits the post and Munster remain in front.
With the second half underway, Jackson, seemingly with a point to prove, slotted over a drop goal to give Ulster the lead again.
That lead is short-lived, however, as Keatley adds three points to the home side from a penalty.
A high kick by Keatley in the 60th minute is won by Denis Hurley who runs over the line to put Munster ahead by six.
Munster looked to have the game secured in the 64th minute as the returning Zebo goes over in the corner but the tension remained high until the final whistle as Ulster quickly respond in the form of a try from Dan Tuoghy and conversion from Jackson.
Neither team makes a change on the league table as Munster hold on to third place and Ulster don’t move from fifth.
Zebre 26-15 Cardiff
Zebre came away with a bonus point win after some brilliant running rugby leaving the Blues on a five game dry streak.
A try from Dion Berryman in the 4th minute gives Zebre an early lead but Carlo Canna missed the conversion.
The Blues reacted well and Adam Thomas crossed the line within two minutes of Zebre’s try. Rhys Patchell couldn’t convert so the score remained level.
Zebre looked more dangerous as the time went by and it showed as broke from deep for Dries Van Schalkwyk to carry the ball over the line. Canna finds the goal this time.
Johan Meyer crossed the line as Zebre racked up a third try before the half, gathering the ball from a wonderful chip over the top from Canna.
Patchell managed to gather three points for Cardiff before the break.
Zebre didn’t allow the Blues to gain any momentum in the second half but also couldn’t get another score on the board themselves.
20 minutes of play passed before the second half saw a score. Tom James touched down in the corner to bring the Blues back within four.
Patchell missed a chance to bring it within one point after the Cardiff were awarded a penalty.
A yellow card in the 68th minute for Andrea De Marchi gave the Blues some hope but the Italians defence held firm.
Zebre added one final try to give them the bonus point as Van Schalkwyk touched down after Zebre drove over the line with a maul.
Zebre are one of only two teams moving upwards in the table going ninth while Cardiff move under the home side to tenth.
Connacht 14-9 Edinburgh
Connacht earned their fifth win of the season, holding off an Edinburgh side who were looking to snatch victory in the closing moments of the game.
The scoring began with a kick at goal from Connacht’s Jack Carty from a penalty at the breakdown.
It was shortly followed with a try from Tiernan O’Halloran. Connacht breaking from the halfway line sent the fullback in for 5 points. However, Carty missed the conversion.
Edinburgh got their first chance for points in the 16th minute from a penalty. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne was the one on kicking duty.
Lively play on both side continued for most of the half but it started to turn scrappy nearing the break.
With two minutes left, Edinburgh were awarded a penalty from a scrum. This time Blair Kinghorn stepped up to the tee to bring Edinburgh within two going into half-time.
A Connacht penalty coming out of the break meant Carty got to add another three points to the board.
It was almost 10 minutes before Edinburgh got a chance to reply. This time it was Hidalgo-Clyne’s turn to have a kick, bringing the difference back to two.
However, it only took two minutes for Connacht to extend the lead again, with Carty finding the goal from another penalty.
Connacht’s scrum was the only thing letting them down, allowing Edinburgh to keep a foot in the door.
The home side only led by five points heading in to the final 10 minutes. A missed penalty by Carty with four minutes to go and again in the final minute didn’t help to settle their nerves.
Edinburgh had time for a restart after the missed kick and were able to regain possession but couldn’t find away out of their half.
Finlay Bealham turned the ball over for Connacht to kick it dead and secured victory.
Connacht’s winning streak means they stay put at second while Edinburgh are lowered to sixth.
Glasgow 31-19 Ospreys
After a close first half, Glasgow were the break away victors in Scotstoun Stadium. The Ospreys returning international players didn’t help them to regain form and they continue their poor start to the season.
Duncan Weir got the first points up with a penalty from a maul in the fourth minute. Ospreys get a chance to bring it back level three minutes later as the Dan Biggar got to take his first kick at goal since returning to the Pro12.
Good defence from Glasgow kept Ospreys outside their 10 metre line for several minutes until they were awarded a penalty from a scrum. Biggar used the opportunity to add another three points in the 14th minute.
A lot of back and forth play from penalties ensued for the majority of the first half. Glasgow managed to break from the mold however, and after an extended attacking build up, Leone Nakarawa made a brilliant offload to put Sean Lamont in for their first try.
Two more kicks from Biggar saw the game into the break, one missed and one scored as Ospreys went to the break leading by one.
A penalty shortly into the second half by Weir gave the Warriors back the lead. The lead shifted again three minutes later as Biggar puts over a penalty from a scrum.
With 49 minutes gone Josh Matavesi was shown a yellow card for being offside at the ruck and slowing down the ball.
Glasgow took advantage and three minutes later Greg Peterson drove though the Ospreys defence for a short-range try.
Weir further extended their lead from a kick at goal two minutes later.
After 58th minutes Ryan Bevington joined Matavesi in the bin for obstructiong a supporting player.
Alex Allan pushed over the line from a ‘pick and go’ to give the warriors their third try of the evening.
Ospreys managed to gather some momentum after 74 minutes as they tore down the field as Dan Baker took an offload from Tom Habberfield and ran in a try.
A seven point lead and four minutes to go didn’t satisfy Glasgow as Taquele Naiyaravoro burrowed through the Ospreys defence and secured a bonus point for the Scots.
Glasgow hold onto their seventh place spot and Ospreys descend back down to second from the bottom once again.
Treviso 3-27 Leinster
The Italian side have yet to pick up a win this season as Leinster leave Veneto with a bonus point victory after the return of their international players.
Leinster started the try scoring early as Jack McGrath burst over the line and Johnny Sexton added the extras to put the Leinster up seven.
Treviso were awarded a penalty not long after. Jayden Hayward put up three points.
Sexton made his return noticed as he was awarded a yellow card for tackling Hayward off the ball with 11 minutes gone.
Leinster found it hard to make ground with their outhalf in the bin and no other score came until the 34th minute when Fergus McFadden split the posts from a penalty.
With only a few seconds to go Dave Kearney superbly took in a high ball before offloading to Isa Nacewa who powered over the line.
A missed conversion from McFadden meant Leinster led 15-3 at half time.
It’s an intense 20 minutes into the second half before another score is made. Jack Conan received the ball from Nacewa and barged through the Treviso defence to touch down.
It only took four minutes for Leinster to add another try to the board as Ben Te’o ran in under the posts.
Leinster were looking for a fifth try but Treviso managed to fend them off for the remainder until the clock reached 80.
Leinster promote themselves to fourth and Treviso remain in their familiar bottom slot.
