Five-try Leinster defeat Dragons in Pro14 opener

Leinster have secured a bonus-point victory after a 39-16 win over Dragons in the Pro14.

After a tight first half, Leinster pulled away and tries from Jordan Larmour, Dan Leavy and Cathal Marsh secured the bonus point.

The teams traded penalties in the opening stage with Gavin Henson and Ross Byrne kicking the points for their respective sides.

It took 23 minutes for the game’s first try. Leinster took a seven-point lead when Jamison Gibson-Park went over after a scrum.

A penalty try at the start of the second extended Leinster’s lead to 20-6. A close-range lineout resulted in a driving maul to the try line but the referee signalled for the try after the Dragons collapsed it deliberately.

Another Leinster try came just five minutes later. Larmour crossed after good work from the forwards.

A third second-half try came for Leinster to open up a 23-point lead when Leavy went through under the posts.

With six minutes remaining, the referee gave a penalty try to the Dragons. Ashton Hewitt was taken out in the air by Adam Byrne when trying to collect the ball on the goal line.

A final score came for Leinster when Marsh took advantage of a turnover to cross down the right.