Leaders Leinster battle to URC win over Sharks

Scott Penny scored Leinster's second try in their victory in Durban

Sharks (0) 7

Tries: Mbonambi Cons: Jordan Hendrikse

Leinster (5) 10

Tries: McErlean, Penny

Leinster's understrength side produced a gutsy defensive effort to edge out the Sharks 10-7 in a hugely physical United Rugby Championship contest in Durban.

Leo Cullen's pacesetters lost for the first time this season when pipped in the final seconds by the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend but tries from Henry McErlean and Scott Penny proved enough for the Irish province to get back to winning ways as Bongi Mbonambi scored the Sharks' try.

The Sharks had a last-gasp penalty chance which if slotted would have secured a draw but skipper Siya Kolisi's gamble of telling Siya Masuku to kick for the corner didn't pay off as Leinster disrupted the subsequent line-out to earn a match-clinching turnover.

Prop Cian Healy was the only member of Ireland's Six Nations squad involved in Leinster's matchday squad with Jodie Barrett and RG Snyman also left out by Cullen.

The Sharks, meanwhile, included double World Cup-winning Springboks skipper Kolisi and former Leinster lock Jason Jenkins.

Leinster's win moved them 12 points ahead at the top although Glasgow had the chance to reduce that to eight as they prepared to face the Bulls later on Saturday in the battle between the third and second-placed sides at Scotstoun.

Leinster led 5-0 at half-time in Durban

Leinster had to repel early Sharks pressure before exploiting scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse's yellow card to notch their first score in the 20th minute as McErlean touched down after running on to a superb long pass from scrum-half Fintan Gunne, who was making his first start for the Irish province.

The Sharks fought back to produce intense pressure before half-time but Leinster held firm to go in 5-0 at the break.

Leinster then produced a fast start to the second half which yielded Penny's 47th-minute try after Ciaran Frawley found a gap in the Sharks defence.

Inexplicably, fly-half Frawley hit the woodwork with the simple looking conversion but Leinster had nevertheless increased their advantage to 10-0.

Given the strength of the Sharks pack, it was inevitable that there would be a response and it arrived within four minutes as hooker Bongi Mbonambi touched down with Jordan Hendrikse adding the extras.

As the Sharks continued to press, Frawley performed heroics in the 57th minute to hold up Ethan Hooker after the wing had crossed the Leinster line.

Despite attacking moments from both sides, there were no further scores in the final quarter - although Leinster had to survive their nervy finish after the Sharks were awarded a penalty on the Irish province's 10-metre line.

Sharks: Penxe; Hooker, Julius, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Nche, Mbonambi, Koch; Jenkins, van Heerden; Venter, V Tshituka, Kolisi (captain).

Replacements: Mbatha, Mchunu, Dreyer, Rahl, M Tshituka, Davids, Masuku, Venter.

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Turner, Tector, Osborne; Frawley, Gunne; Healy, McKee, Clarkson; Mangan, Deeny; Soroka, Connors, Deegan (captain). Replacements: Barron, Milne, McGuire, Spicer, Penny, Coffey, Byrne, McErlean