RaboDirect Pro12: Week 15 Review

Cardiff Blues 21 - 14 Ulster

Dan Parks inspired his team to their second win at Arms Park, despite the visitors early lead. Robbie Diack scored the first try of the game in the 19th minute as Ulster set about dominating the Welsh side to give them an 8-0 lead following the earlier penalty from Ruan Pienaar. Parks kicked two penalties to keep Cardiff in the game, while Peinaar added another three points to Ulster's scoreboarding giving them an 11-6 lead at half-time.

The recently retired Parks returned to Cardiff and scored 16 of their points as they came out fighting the second half, whilst Ulster struggled to dominate the same way they did in the first 40 minutes. Parks leveled the scored two minutes into the second half after going over for a try but he was unable to add the extras. The Blues seemed to find their pace and Ulster struggled to break through their defence. Tom James gave Cardiff the lead when he went over for their second try and this time Parks conversion was on target.

Ulster found themselves a man down after Ian Humphreys was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, Parks was unable to extend the Blues lead as his straight forward penalty failed to go over. However he had the chance to put the Blues out of Ulster's reach just minutes later with another penalty. Pienaar did manage to get another three points for Ulster but was not enough for a win, and despite Parks missing a 79th minute penalty the home side had already secured their win.

Ospreys 23 - 7 Aironi

Steve Tandy, who this week took over as head coach, got off to a flying start as the Ospreys secured a comfortable win over Aironi. Following a collapsed scrum in the fifth minute Ospreys won a penalty try with Biggar adding the extra points. The home side dominated possession and it was not long before they had a further three points on the board with Biggars boot kicking over a penalty.

Mauro Bergamasco found himself in the sin-bin after elbowing Rhys Webb in the face, lucking for Aironi the Ospreys were unable to capitalise on their one-man advantage but still went into the break with a ten-point lead.

Biggar added to the Ospreys lead straight after the restart with another three points while Nass Oliver missed two penalties in two minutes for the visitors before Biggar slotted over yet another penalty. In the last ten minute Sinoti Sinoti went over for the Italians as they looked for some consolation, Oliver's kick was on target this timing giving Aironi a much needed seven points. Andrew Bishop then went over for a try as the clock ticked down, Matthew Morgan converted to seal Tandy's first victory.

Leinster 16 - 13 Scarlets

Fergus McFadden scored all 16 of Leinster's including a last minute penalty to give the Irish side a win over the Scarlets. Stephen Jones and McFadden exchanged early penalties to keep the scores leveled. Daniel Newton then  went over for the first try of the game to give the Scarlets the lead again while Jones added the extras.

Top of the table Leinster were off to a great start after the restart with McFadden dodged the Scarlets defence as he went over for a try before adding the extras once again putting the two sides level. Newton and McFadden then exchanged penalties as the last quarter approached. Both sides were fighting for a victory and McFadden sent a penalty wide in the 75th minute, however he got another chance in the 80th minute, this time his kick was on target, sealing the win for the Irish side.

Benetton Treviso 14 - 35 Munster 

Munster dominated over Treviso as they picked up a bonus point in Italy. Four minutes into the game Danny Barnes went over for Munster's first try which was duly converted by Ronan O'Gara. Simon Zebo followed suit seven minutes later and with another on target conversion for O'Gara the visitors were 14 points clear. O'Gara was at it again with a penalty before Johne Murphy went over for Munster's third try, O'Gara made it three conversions out of three and Munster were looking out of reach for Treviso who had failed to make any impact on the game.

Treviso picked up some pace in the 29th minute and Munster's defence had to hold back Treviso who gave up the chance of a penalty in favour of going over for a try. Mick O'Discoll was sent to the sin bin and with numbers on their side Fabio Semenzato finally managed to get some points on the board for the Italians. Willen De Waal added the extras but the home side trailed 24-7 at the break.

Zebo was handed a yellow card five minutes into the second half and Treviso took advantage of the Irish side being down to 13 men, Corniel Van Zyl went over for a try and De Waal added the extras. Treviso then gave away a penalty which O'Gara kicked over and added another three points five minutes later.

The Italians then saw Valerio Bernabo sin-binned and Zebo went over for his second try of the match two minutes from time to give Munster the bonus-point.

Connacht 13 - 13 Glasgow Warriors

Niall O'Connor kicked a last minute penalty to give Connacht a draw against Glasgow Warriors after clawing back from 7-3 down at the break. O'Connor missed two easy kicks in the first half. Henry Pyrgos missed a drop goal attempt for the Warriors before Jon Welsh went over under the posts for a try, Jackson added the extras and the visitors were in the lead. For O'Connor it was third time lucky as his third penalty was on target to give Connacht their first points on the board.

Jackson extended the visitors lead in the 55th minute with another penalty. When Tommy Seymour was sin-binned in the 60th minute Connacht got a chance to take advantage. A clever kick from O'Connor found Tiernan O'Halloran who went over for the homeside with O'Connor adding the extras when it really mattered to level the scores. Duncan Weir put the visitors back in the lead with a penalty but they were still in reach and O'Connor held his nerve in the 80th minute to give Connacht the draw ending they ten game losing streak.

Newport Gwent Dragons 21 - 10 Edinburgh

Jason Tovey's boot helped the Dragons to a win over Edinburgh after a rocky start for the home side. Phil Godman put the visitors on the in the third minute to give them an early lead. The Dragons found themselves a man down after the sin-binning of Gavin Thomas but Tovey managed to level the scores with a penalty before knocking over another three points. Sean Cox was then shown a yellow card for an illegal ruck and Dragons took full advantage. Both Joe Bedford and Alex Brew went over for tries with Tovey converting the former giving the Dragons an 18-3 lead at half time. In the second half Tovey added another three points before Grant Gilchrist went over for a try, Gregor Hunter added the extras.