Leinster 30, Bath Rugby 11 - Heineken Cup

On the face of it the home team won due to their greater invention out wide where Brian O'Driscoll, Denis Hickie and Gordon D'Arcy (before he was stretchered off with a groin injury, were supreme. However, the 30-11 score line did not completely befit a match where Bath Rugby dominated in terms of pressure, possession and territory.

"We were extremely disappointed," explained Head Coach John Connolly after the game. "We were in the ascendancy in terms of possession and field position, but could just not finish off the chances that we created.

Losing South African international centre Robbie Fleck with a calf injury midway through the first half was a massive blow to the visitors who were forced into reshuffling the back line on several occasions in what was a bruising game. Replacement centre Spencer Davey was cut above both eyes, wing Alex Crockett was cut on the top of his head, whilst in the pack veteran campaigner Jonathan Humphreys also sustained a split above his eye.

"Losing Robbie was a big blow to us," said Connolly. "We had to make one or two changes in the backs, but full credit to Leinster - they played well today."

However the game was played in good spirits and where Bath Rugby struggled to get the game going behind a pretty solid forward platform, Leinster's backs took full advantage of the scraps that they were fed.

Bath Rugby now move on to face Saracens in the Zurich Premiership on Saturday at Franklin's Gardens (3pm)
9 mins: Holwell pen (3-0)
20 mins: Barkley pen (3-3)
27 mins: Hickie try, Holwell conversion (10-3)
30 mins: Crockett try (10-8)
HALF TIME
45 mins: D'Arcy drop goal (13-8)
55 mins: Barkley pen (13-11)
56 mins: Holwell pen (16-11)
67 mins: D'Arcy try, Holwell conversion (23-11)
78 mins: Horgan try, Holwell conversion (30-11)

Referee: Nigel Williams (WRU)