Ulster and Leinster both enjoyed wins against Aironi and Cardiff Blues respectively in the Magners League on Saturday evening.
Results:
Aironi 15-22 Ulster
Leinster 32-23
Ulster were the first side to face Aironi on their home patch in the Stadio Zaffanella and came away from Italy with a hard earned victory.
Robbie Diack scored the only try of the match in the 60th minute after intercepting Ludovic Mercier’s pass and touching down. Diack’s try was converted by Niall O’Connor, who added five penalties for a personal haul of 17 points. With four penalties and a drop goal, Ludovic Mercier accounted for all of Aironi’s 15 points.
Ulster now lie on eight points in the Magners League table after wins in their opening two games.
Leinster got their first win of the Magners League campaign with a nine point defeat of Cardiff Blues at the RDS.
Irish out-half Jonny Sexton was ruled out before kick-off through injury, but the hosts made light of his absence with early tries from Shane Jennings and Isa Nacewa to surge into a 14-0 lead after ten minutes. Nacewa and Cardiff out half Dan Parks landed two penalties apiece to leave Leinster with a 20-6 lead at half-time.
Joe Schmidt’s side failed to score for thirty minutes of the second half, however, by which time Cardiff had edged in front thanks to tries from Bradley Davies and Richie Rees, and seven points from the boot of Dan Parks.
Fergus McFadden and Sexton’s replacement, Ian Madigan both scored tries in the last ten minutes to make sure of a victory and a bonus point for last year’s runners-up, who lie on six points after the opening two matches.
