Pro14: Round 15 Wrap-up
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A couple of tables turned in Round 15 as losers from a fortnight ago emerged victorious this round. Ill-discipline spoiled the contest that was Munster and Connacht while Scarlets and Cardiff Blues enjoyed victories in the Welsh derbies as we head into the semi-finals.
Edinburgh vs Glasgow Warriors:
In the first game of the weekend, Glasgow got their own back against arch rivals Edinburgh as the former triumphed 15-3. In Round 14, Edinburgh enjoyed a comfortable 30-15 victory but were not allowed to enjoy the same control this time around.
Glasgow drew first blood before picking up a yellow card but Edinburgh could only manage three points with their numerical advantage and the players jogged off to the sheds with the score at 7-3.
The second stanza was as tight as the first and Warriors kept their stranglehold on Edinburgh who had little response. Warriors posted another try at the outset of the final quarter to give the game its final score.
Dragons vs Scarlets:
Scarlets enjoyed a convincing 41-20 win over Dragons in the first of the Welsh derbies. The lead changed hands several times during the first half before the teams left the field with a 19-15 half-time score.
Scarlets turned the heat up in the second forty, running in three more tries to put them out of reach of Dragons who could only manage a consolation score.
Ulster vs Leinster:
Leinster posted their fifteenth win from fifteen outings as they put Ulster away 28-10.
Leinster hit the ground running against their fellow Irishmen with an early try followed by two penalties for a half-time score of 13-0.
Ulster leapt onto the scoreboard in the second half, finding themselves nine points adrift and in with a chance.
Leinster, however, were not to be undone, adding a further 12 points to their tally to bury Ulster and look forward to their big semi-final clash against Munster.
Munster vs Connacht:
An initial good contest was marred by ill-discipline as the referee drew from his pocket three yellow cards and two red cards over an 80 minute period which Munster dominated, winning 49-12.
Connacht were the recipients of the two red cards which, in effect, put them out of the contest.
Munster ran in seven tries and look in decent shape for the semi-finals where they face the mighty Leinster.
Cardiff vs Ospreys:
Cardiff despatched Ospreys 29-20 in the second Welsh derby of the round.
It was an open game with both backlines running hard at each other. Cardiff will take pride in the fact that they bounced back well from their heavy defeat to Scarlets last weekend.
Ospreys may have enjoyed a better result were it not for their discipline which proved to be a significant thorn in their side.
Zebre vs Benetton:
Benetton took revenge on their fellow Italians, Zebre, emerging victorious 16-9 after last week’s 17-13 defeat.
It was an open game where both teams tested the defensive strengths of each other but Benetton stemmed the tide and managed to put together two good tries to secure the game.