United Rugby Championship: Leinster ease past Ospreys at RDS

James Lowe scored on his return from injury as Leinster battled past Ospreys 29-7 and move to the top of the United Rugby Championship table.

Jordan Larmour and Cian Healy scored first-half tires to give Leinster a 15-0 lead.

Lowe touched down after a superb solo run after the restart but Ospreys hit back through Rhys Webb.

Flanker Scott Penny secured the bonus-point for Leinster with six minutes to play.

Ospreys were boosted by the return of Welsh international Dan Lydiate, who had missed a year with a knee injury, however it was Leinster who struck first through an early penalty from Ross Byrne.

Leinster moved further clear on eight minutes when Larmour, released from Ireland duty, raced onto fly-half Byrne's grubber kick to touch down on eight minutes.

With Ospreys number eight Morgan Morris in the sin bin for indiscipline in defence, Ireland prop Healy capitalised to burrow his way over the Welsh line for Leinster's second score of the night as the hosts moved into a comfortable lead at the break.

James Lowe marked his return from injury with a stunning solo try

In wet and windy conditions, Lowe lit up the RDS with a stunning score on 57 minutes. Jimmy O'Brien collected Byrne's clever kick inside his own 22 before finding Lowe inside.

The returning Ireland winger showed a tremendous burst of pace to evade several tackles and he raced clear to complete a clinical move when Ospreys thought they had Leinster hemmed in their own 22.

Webb, not to be outdone by Lowe, got Ospreys on the board when he deceived the home defence with a smart pick and go before the scrum-half side-stepped Larmour to touch down unopposed and complete a fine move.

Penny, who had an earlier attempt ruled out for being held up over the lined, forced his way for a deserved try to secure the bonus-point for Leon Cullen's men.

Leinster move to the summit of the table by four points over Ulster, who face the Dragons on Sunday.

Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien, Jordan Larmour, Jamie Osborne, Harry Byrne, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Cian Healy, James Tracy, Michael Ala'alatoa, Ross Molony, Ryan Baird, Martin Moloney, Scott Penny, Max Deegan.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Peter Dooley, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Dunne, Rhys Ruddock, Nick McCarthy, Rory O'Loughlin, James Lowe.

Ospreys: Dan Evans; Keelan Giles, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Will Griffiths, Ethan Roots, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Elvis Taione, Rhodri Jones, Rhys Henry, Lloyd Ashley, Dan Lydiate, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Assistants: Andrew Brace & Dan Carson (IRFU)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)