Sheehan inspires Leinster win over 14-man Dragons

Dan Sheehan inspired Leinster to a 13th win in a row over gutsy Dragons, who saw Taine Basham sent off for foul play.

Dragons centre Aneurin Owen capped a promising display with a try

However Charlie Ngatai and Scot Penny crossed a bonus-point win either side of Basham's red card.

The Wales flanker was banished for a petulant elbow into the head of Ross Byrne.

It was a needless offence that left his side, already trailing 26-10, down to 14 men for the final 18 minutes.

A third win in four saw Leinster move back to second place in the United Rugby Championship, behind leaders Bulls on points difference.

Dragons are now one of only two sides without a win, a point ahead of bottom side Sharks.

Both sides welcomed back a host of internationals from World Cup duty.

It meant Dai Flanagan was able to field a back-row of Dan Lydiate, Basham and Aaron Wainwright for the first time, while Leinster were led for the first time by Ireland hooker Sheehan.

The Wales trio were tenacious around the field and at the breakdown, but the Irish front-rower finished a driving maul for the game's opening try on nine minutes.

However Leinster did not have it all their own way as Evans kicked a penalty and Jared Rosser went close from Owen's kick

Elliot Dee and Lloyd Fairbrother returned from facing Barbarians for Wales to the Dragons front-row, but the scrums proved a bone of contention with Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi.

It was from another penalty from the set-piece that Leinster finally broke clear with a second try just before half-time. Prop Clarkson crashed through from a clever move straight off the training ground.

Having held out for so much of the first half, Dragons were undone just 56 seconds into the second.

Rio Dyer spilt a pass in midfield, Sheehan pounced to start a rapid counter-attack that ended with the hooker handing full-back Frawley a scoring pass in the right corner.

It was a decisive blow in what had been a well-contested match.

Dragons managed a response despite having their line-out drive knocked back when Owen raced onto Rhodri Williams' kick for their first try.

However Leinster clinched the bonus point on 62 minutes when Ngatai scored from Byrne's pinpoint cross-field kick.

It got worse for Dragons when Basham was sent off and George Nott followed to the sin bin moments later for a high tackle that left them with just 13 players for the closing stages.

Replacement Penny grabbed Leinster fifth in added time for defeat that extends Dragons winless run at home that stretches back to October 2022.

Dragons: Cai Evans; Rio Dyer, Steff Hughes (capt), Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser, Will Reed; Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones; Elliot Dee, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Aki Seiuli, Luke Yendle, Sean Lonsdale, Ryan Woodman, Dane Blacker, Jack Dixon, Ewan Rosser.

Leinster: Ciaran Frawley; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Charlie Ngatai, Jimmy O'Brien; Ross Byrne, Ben Murphy; Jack Boyle, Dan Sheehan (capt), Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Will Connors, James Culhane.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Paddy McCarthy, Michael Ala'alatoa, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Cormac Foley, Harry Byrne, Rob Russell.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Ian Davies & Mark Butcher (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)