Dragons RFC’s long wait for victory in Dublin continued as a formidable Leinster side secured a 34-6 victory in the BKT United Rugby Championship clash at Aviva Stadium.
Dai Flanagan’s men produced a hugely positive first half performance and two penalties from Lloyd Evans saw them trail just 10-6 at the break.
A controversial try after the interval sent Leinster clear and three scores in the final quarter wrapped up a bonus point home win.
Dragons had never begun a Championship campaign with a pair of victories and in the first 40 minutes went toe-to-toe with the frustrated hosts.
But Leinster had only lost twice in 30 previous games at the Aviva and they eased clear in the second period to move top of the URC table.
Leinster were straight on the front foot in a breathless opening, but Dragons held firm and won a turnover through Shane Lewis-Hughes before turning the hosts with a 50:22 from Dane Blacker.
Centre Harry Wilson, on his first start, then had a half break after a neat lineout move before Ewan Rosser was denied by a tap tackle from Jimmy O’Brien.
Dragons, who had lost Angus O’Brien in the warm-up, then saw George Nott forced off and replaced by Matthew Screech to complete a hectic opening period.
The visitors had started well, but Lloyd Evans missed a chance to reward territory when he saw a penalty go wide after ten minutes.
Leinster had been forced to live on scraps but were given a huge lift when prop Chris Coleman was yellow carded after a high tackle in midfield.
The home side clinically struck within two minutes as Jack Conan went over out wide against the run of play.
Dragons were guilty of coughing up penalties to feed Leinster field position at the midpoint of the half.
Brodie Coghlan and Carter pounced on Leinster as they ran from deep to win a penalty, and Evans nudged the kick over to cut the lead for the 14 men.
Ewan Rosser showed his game awareness to race over and take a kick ahead from Jordan Larmour before swift hands released Rio Dyer and Wilson down the right before Leinster scrambled across.
The home side were being frustrated by Dragons, but they slowly built momentum before the break and a five-metre lineout pulled men in and Ross Byrne stretched over.
The Men of Gwent, though, hit back on the stroke of half-time as Evans slotted a second penalty after Coleman won a penalty.
Dragons needed to keep the performance levels up at the start of the second half as Rodrigo Martinez and Harri Keddie swooped for a breakdown penalty.
Leinster finally strung phases together and made yards as they repeatedly drove to the line before Max Deegan got the ball down, with the try given by the TMO despite Evans appearing to hold him up.
A scrum penalty gave Dragons entry in the home 22 just before the hour and a flat pass from Hughes found Wilson who kicked deep.
Hooker Oli Burrows made his debut on the hour while George Young made his first appearance of the season.
Joe McCarthy wrapped up the try bonus for Leinster with 15 minutes left with a five-metre lineout move before wing Jordan Larmour was the beneficiary of another lengthy TMO decision.
A spirited final ten minutes saw Dragons hold firm until a final play score from Aitzol King. Attention now turns to three successive home games back at Rodney Parade to reignite the season.
Timeline:
18m Conan t 5-0
26m Evans p 5-3
38m Byrne t 10-3
40m Evans p 10-6
47m Deegan t Byrne c 17-6
65m McCarthy t Byrne c 24-6
70m Larmour t 29-6
80m King t 34-6
Leinster: Jamie Osborne, Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Charlie Tector, Jimmy O’Brien, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan
Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Rabah Slimani, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Aitzol King
Dragons RFC: Ewan Rosser, Rio Dyer (Owen 68), Harry Wilson, Steff Hughes (Westwood 59), Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans, Dane Blacker (Williams 51); Rodrigo Martinez (Jones 51), Brodie Coghlan (Burrows 59), Chris Coleman (Yendle 28-33, 59), Ben Carter, George Nott (Screech 6), Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie (Young 65), Shane Lewis-Hughes
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rhodri Jones, Luke Yendle, Matthew Screech, George Young, Rhodri Williams, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Attendance: 18,397
