Sharks lashed by Leinster

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A clinical Leinster outfit handed the Sharks a second defeat in as many matches in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Dublin on Saturday.

Trailing 12-6 at half time, the Sharks conceded three tries in the second 40 minutes in a 34-13 loss at the Aviva Stadium, following a round 1 defeat to defending champions, Munster, in Limerick last week.

Two first-half tries from left winger Jordan Larmour and No 8 Max Deegan – who was making his 100th appearance for Leinster – and a conversion from flyhalf Harry Byrne edged the hosts in front after two Curwin Bosch penalties gave the visitors a slim lead before the close of the opening quarter.

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Leinster hooker Lee Barron earned 10 minutes in the naughty chair for a dangerous hit on opposite number Kerron van Vuuren after the break, but the hosts bagged a converted Rob Russell try and penalty from Byrne despite being down to 14 men.

Right wing Tommy O’Brien crossed the whitewash inside the final quarter to secure the bonus point for Leinster, before Russell notched up his second of the match as Leo Cullen’s men picked up their first win of the season after going down to Glasgow Warriors in the opening week of the competition.

Sharks replacement Dylan Richardson barged over from close range before the final whistle as the Durbanites will now regroup for a trip to London on Friday to face Ospreys, but head coach John Plumtree will be sweating the fitness of Vincent Tshituka after the blindside flanker left the field before the interval in the Irish capital with a shoulder injury.

Photo: @leinsterrugby/Twitter

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