Leinster blank Benetton Treviso 0-18 to finish at top

Benetton Treviso 0-18 Leinster, Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Scorecard

Leinster came up with an improved second half performance as they blanked Benetton Treviso 0-18 in the sixth round of the Heineken Champions Cup clash at Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Saturday.

This is Leinster's sixth consecutive win as they finish at the top of Pool 1 table with 28 points while Benetton end the competition with their fifth defeat from six games.

Benetton came out attacking in the opening stage but Leinster's defence kept them in check. As the first quarter was about to end, Leinster lost Caelan Doris to yellow-card but Benetton failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage.

The first points in the game came in the 35th minute when Ross Byrne kicked a penalty goal as Leinster managed a slender 0-3 lead at the end of the first half.

The home side started the second half with a setback when Irne Herbst was yellow-carded and Byrne's second penalty kick increased the Irish side's lead to six points.

As Benetton returned to full strength, Leinster looked in no trouble as Doris made amends for his yellow-card early in the game for the opening try of the match in the 60th minute and James Tracy followed the suit five minutes later the visitors completed a 18-point win to finish the league stage on a high.