United Rugby Championship: Leinster 47-18 Benetton - hosts put on second-half show

Tommy O'Brien and Luke Turner in action against Malakai Fekitoa

Leinster resumed their United Rugby Championship campaign with a 47-18 bonus-point win over Benetton to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Scott Penny, Luke McGrath and Liam Turner scored as the hosts held a narrow 21-18 lead at the break.

Benetton's Ignacio Mendy notched two tries for the Italian side.

Leinster shut out the visitors in the second half as Jason Jenkins, Ben Murphy, Brian Deeny and a second try from Penny secured a comfortable win.

Following an extended break from competitive action during the opening two rounds of the Six Nations, both sides were missing many of their international representatives for this top of the table encounter.

The visitors got off to the perfect start, working the ball wide to winger Mendy who finished well in the corner to tee up an entertaining first half.

The hosts hit back minutes later, working the ball up the pitch before Penny powered his way over from close distance. Ross Byrne added the extras from the kicking tee to level the score.

Leinster's momentum continued, with scrum-half McGrath taking advantage of a momentary lapse in concentration from Benetton to sneak through a gap at the side of a ruck and scamper over to touch down and put his side ahead.

Jacob Umaga slotted a penalty for the Italian side to reduce the deficit to four points.

However, the hosts extended their lead with an excellent try from Turner, with the centre demonstrating pace and power to exploit a gap in midfield and power his way over the tryline. Byrne once again added the extras.

The entertaining first half continued, with some lovely hands from the back-line stretching the Leinster defence before Mendy crashed over in the corner for his second try of the game.

Umaga kicked an impressive long-distance penalty just before the break to keep his side within touching distance going into the second half.

Leinster started the second half with intent, applying pressure at the line-out and then capitalising on patient forwards play with a try from Jenkins, who burrowed over the line. Byrne maintained his perfect record from the tee.

The pressure continued from the hosts, with scrum-half Murphy using the maul as his platform to score an opportunistic try, giving his side a comfortable points cushion in the final quarter.

The misery continued for Benetton as replacement second row Deeny powered over for a try before Penny dotted down for the second time to cap off a dominant second half for the hosts.

Leinster: H McErlean; T O'Brien, L Turner, J Osborne, R Russell; R Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, L Barron, T Clarkson; R Molony, J Jenkins; W Connors, S Penny, M Deegan.

Replacements: J McKee, E Byrne, M Ala'alatoa, B Deeny, R Ruddock, B Murphy, S Prendergast, B Brownlee.

Benetton: J Umaga; I Mendy, M Fekitoa, M Zanon, O Ratave; T Albornoz, A Uren; T Gallo, S Maile, T Pasquali; G Koegelenberg, E Snyman; G Pettinelli, T Halafihi, H Time-Stowers.

Replacements: G Nicotera, F Zani, F Alongi, R Favretto, A Izekor, A Garbisi, L Marin, F Drago.