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The Irish rugby team Leinster lifts the PRO14 trophy.
Leinster became the first team to win three in a row PRO14 titles after breaking free from Ulster resistance in the second half to register a 27-5 final victory at Aviva Stadium.
Robbie Henshaw’s interception attempt in the 45th minute and a final score by Caelan Doris were the highlights as Leo Cullen’s team, which remains undefeated in all competitions this season, claimed their fifth PRO14 title in eight years.
With a Champions Cup quarterfinal against Saracens just a week away, captain Jonathan Sexton was benched until the hour mark when Ross Byrne kicked Leinster to a 10-5 lead in the middle. long after James Lowe canceled James Hume’s first attempt.
Cullen’s men extended their winning streak to 25 games before the visit from Sarries, the last team to defeat them 16 months ago.
Encouraged by his latest heroics against Edinburgh in last weekend’s semi-final, Ulster enjoyed a dream start in his first final appearance since 2013.
A throwback pass from Alan O’Connor freed Hume from 40 yards and the young center ran away from Ronan Kelleher and Lowe to score brilliantly near the left corner.
Leinster responded quickly when Jamison Gibson-Park’s cut pass put Lowe out of bounds, the conversion carefully provided by Byrne for a 7-5 lead before adding a penalty.
Another Byrne penalty extended the lead and the fatal blow came moments later.
Henshaw gobbled up a Burns pass just inside the Ulster half and stayed away from Michael Lowry chasing him to get under the posts.
With Byrne turning 20-5, it was a long way back for the Ulstermen who will travel to Toulouse next week in the European quarterfinals.
The closing attempt came nine minutes from time when wing Doris passed two former Leinster players Jordi Murphy and Ian Madigan, and under the posts, with Sexton converting.
