European Champions Cup: Leinster top Pool Two following half-century win over Castres
Last Updated: 17/01/15 9:09pm
Leinster moved to the top of Pool Two of the European Rugby Champions Cup with a 50-8 victory over Castres.
Dave Kearney, Martin Moore, Eoin Reddan, Sean Cronin as well as replacements Tadhg Furlong, Darragh Fanning and Luke McGrath all crossed the whitewash for the Leinstermen as they ensured they are still in the run for a quarter-final place with their bonus-point win in Dublin.
The win places them at the top of Pool Two with Harlequins needing a big win over Wasps later today on Saturday if they are to overtake the Irish side.
The first half was riddled with handling errors early on but Leinster finally edged their way ahead when a big scrum from their relatively inexperienced front row earned them a win against the head. The backs took play up to the Castres half before the visitors were penalised at the ruck.
As seemed to be the theme of the night, Jamie Heaslip asked his fly-half to kick for the corner instead of the poles, and despite that tactic not working every time, on that occasion Dave Kearney was given enough space to slip through the Castres midfield and cross for Leinster's first try.
Rory Kockott kept Castres in the game with a penalty but a yellow card shown to Castres flanker Ibrahim Diarra gave Leinster the opportunity to capitalise with tries.
Gopperth opted for the corner from the resulting penalty and this time the forwards kept it to themselves as prop Martin Moore was left with little to do at the back of a thundering maul.
Leinster scored again through Reddan but Castres were unlucky to have a try ruled out moments before for what the TMO deemed to be a double movement from Marcel Garvey.
Leinster had all but wrapped up the game when they kept attacking with no time left on the clock in the first half. Hooker Sean Cronin was put into space and the speedy front-ranker finished off the enterprising move from the hosts to give his side a bonus point on the stroke of half time.
Castres showed more promise in the second half and were on the cusp of scoring when Rob Kearney plucked a cross-field kick from the air and ran 90 metres before being brought down by Garvey.
Still it took Leinster up until the 58th minute before they were able to register a second-half point as replacement prop Furlong crashed over beneath the poles.
Winger Darragh Fanning touched down moments after coming onto the pitch but his score was matched by Castres winger Romain Martial to give his side their first try with 10 minutes left in the match.
Replacement scrum-half McGrath then crossed over for the final score of the game to give his side a confident 50-8 win ahead of their table-topping showdown with Wasps next week.
