Leinster 45-25 Newport Gwent Dragons

Leinster put the disappointment of their opening day defeat behind them to comfortably see off the Dragons 45-25 at home.

After Tom Prydie and Ian Madigan had registered three points apiece early on, Leinster struck the first meaningful blow with young winger Andrew Conway crossing after Noel Reid had made an excellent break. The Irishmen weren't ahead for long though as Reid went from hero to villain, throwing a loose pass that was intercepted by fly-half Steffan Jones, who had just enough pace to run it in from well inside his own half for a try. Two more Madigan penalties to just one from Prydie then edged the reigning Heineken Cup champions in front before Ben Marshall spotted a gap in the Dragons' defensive line and darted over from close range to stretch the lead. Leinster are notoriously good frontrunners and the visitors didn't help themselves when prop Nathan Williams got himself sent to the sin bin in the dying stages of the first half. The home side made them pay, Madigan adding another penalty to make it 26-13 at half-time before Shane Jennings powered over from a line-out drive and Fionn Carr finished off a typically fluid Leinster move to widen the gap to 25 points with 10 minutes gone in the second half. The Dragons didn't throw in the towel though and tries from Prydie, who finished off a good break down the right-hand side, and full-back Dan Evans gave them hope of mounting an improbable comeback. It wasn't to be though as Leinster held firm for the final quarter of the match and Brendan Macken added a bit of extra gloss to the victory in the final minute, making an interception and sprinting the length of the field to score the hosts' fifth try of the night.