LEINSTER 36-22 LEICESTER
Leicester Tigers came flying out of the gates, at Aviva Stadium, but Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan and Joe McCarthy had some swift, painful responses for them.
Handré Pollard crashed over for a try after only five minutes of play, in Dublin. Ross Byrne responded with a penalty but Leinster were far from done.
A swift attack saw Joe McCarthy stretch all 6-foot-6 of his frame, pick a ball off his ankles, get back to full speed for a clean break and switch back inside for a try assist – to Gibson-Park – that had fans out of their seats and roaring.
The big man with lovely handling and a nice burst of pace, showing great awareness to set his scrumhalf free.
Jamison Gibson-Park gets first half hat-trick
Dan Sheehan followed up that Joe McCarthy assist with a sweet one of his own, to make it 15-7 to Leinster, as Jamison Gibson-Park cruised over after a nice support line.
The hat-trick try arrived on 30 minutes when Jamie Osborne made a nice break and inside pass:
The second half saw Leicester Tigers get to within a score of the hosts with a James Cronin try in the corner. Robbie Henshaw scored an intercept try, though, to keep the English side at a safe distance.
Jack Conan thought he had sealed victory with a fine try, only for the TMO to rule it out for a knock-on. 10 minutes later, there was no argument as Conan grounded the ball after a superb Ryan Baird break. Sub Charlie Clare got a Leicester consolation but that was as good as it got.
That win for Leinster sets up a Champions Cup quarter final against reigning champs, La Rochelle.
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