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Guinness Pro12 round-up: Ulster, Connacht and Leinster occupy places 1,2 and 3

Despite most of the focus being on the international stage this weekend, there was another round ...



Guinness Pro12 round-up: Ulste...
Rugby

Guinness Pro12 round-up: Ulster, Connacht and Leinster occupy places 1,2 and 3

Despite most of the focus being on the international stage this weekend, there was another round of important fixtures involving Irish provinces in the Guinness Pro12 this weekend. Here's our round-up:

Newport Gwent Dragons 21-26 Connacht

Connacht are still licking their wounds with the announcement that Robbie Henshaw won't be at the province next season, but they may not need him judging by their four try victory over the Dragons on Thursday. 

In a thrilling game of rugby, Bundee Aki's late fourth try was enough for Connacht to eke out victory at Rodney Parade. 

Dragons led 15-14 after scores from Adam Hughes and Ashton Hewitt were added to by the boots of Jason Tovey and his replacement, Angus O'Brien, who tacked on two more penalties in the second half. 

Matt Healy and Tiernan O'Halloran crossed for the Westerners in the first half and those tries were added to by Eoghan Masterson and Aki and three conversions from man of the Match Craig Ronaldosn to give Connacht a memorable victory.

The win left them top of the table prior to the rest of the weekends games and stretches the Dragons winless run against Connacht to seven.

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Ulster 13-10 Glasgow Warriors 

The side who displaced Connacht at the top were Ulster after they just about scraped past a struggling Glasgow side at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night. 

It was a night to remember for loosehead prop Callum Black as he earned his 100th cap for the province and marked the occasion with Ulster's only try of the contest. 

Ulster trailed 5-3 at the break with Lee Jones crossing for the visitors and Ruan Pienaar kicking the hosts only score of the opening half. 

However, Ulster took the initiative when Black rumbled over and Paddy Jackson kicked the resulting conversion, which he followed up with a penalty. 

Glasgow didn't go home empty handed though, as Taqele Naiyaravoro crashed over late on to give them a losing bonus point. 

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Leinster 52-0 Zebre

Leinster put in a dominant display against Italian minnows Zebre as they ran in eight tries at the RDS on Friday night, consolidating third place in the table in the process. 

It was a glimpse into the future for Leinster as Garry Ringrose was awarded Man of the Match for his efforts while fellow youth prospects Adam Byrne, Luke McGrath and Cian Kelleher all notched five pointers, while James Tracy, Ross Molony and Josh VanDer Flier put in hard shifts. 

Irish front liners Cian Healy and Mike Ross both came through unscathed and put themselves back into contention for selection against England in a fortnight. 

Hayden Triggs opened the scoring with his first try for the province while Isa Nacewa crossed soon after, with McGrath and Byrne completing the scoring in the first half. 

Jordi Murphy, Sean Cronin, Ringrose and Kelleher then added four more in the second period with Cathal Marsh and Nacewa sharing the kicking duties, landing three conversions each. 

The result is a timely reminder of the talent and depth that exists at Leinster with so many internationals unavailable for selection while the result puts a dent in the encouraging progress made by Zebre this season, who sit second from bottom on 18 points. 

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Munster 17-21 Ospreys

Ospreys snatched a priceless win away to Munster thanks to the boot of outhalf Sam Davies at Irish Independent Park.

Munster will be kicking themselves for not seeing this one out as they took a 17-10 lead midway through the second half, but Owen Watkin came off the bench to score to give the Ospreys the advantage. 

Tries from Duncan Williams and the brilliant Francis Sailli gave Munster a 12-10 half time lead, with Davies crossing and adding a conversion and penalty for Ospreys. 

Robin Copeland then touched down after a fantastic break from Darren Sweetnam to give them the seven point advantage, but Watkin's late score and another Davies penalty meant the Weslh side go home with the win. 

The result keeps Munster in sixth place but Ospreys have closed the gap to just three points as we enter the final half of the season. 

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Other results:

Benetton Treviso 13-7 Cardiff Blues

Llanelli Scarlets 22-21 Edinburgh Rugby

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