MAGNERS LEAGUE/Newport 30 Leinster 14:MICHAEL CHEIKA'S decision to rest his big guns came back to haunt him as his charges suffered a hefty Magners League defeat to the Newport Gwent Dragons yesterday.
Leinster were without the likes of big-hitting international stars Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Leo Cullen for the trip to south Wales. And coach Cheika paid the price for selecting a weakened side after the hosts put his rusty reserves to the sword.
The dismal result also completed four defeats for the Irish provinces on a miserable weekend of action.
Ulster started the misery with a home loss to Glasgow Warriors, reigning Magners League champions Munster succumbed to the Ospreys in Swansea while basement club Connacht ended up empty-handed in yesterday's clash against the Cardiff Blues.
Newport's Aled Brew crossed for the opening try as early as the fifth minute and it rarely looked like improving for Leinster after that as the Dragons grabbed maximum points five minutes before the interval.
Halfback partners James Arlidge and Wayne Evans both touched down before wing Richard Fussell capped a terrific opening period for the home side as Leinster wasted a golden opportunity to reassert their advantage at the top of the Magners League.
However, the visitors can boast they won the second period 8-6 and their efforts were rewarded when wing David Kearney scored a late consolation but it was too little, too late for the visitors.
Now the visitors must lick their wounds before a return to Wales for the Heineken Cup clash with the Scarlets next week.
Cheika blooded the youthful Rhys Ruddock, who was watched by his father and former Dragons boss Mike Ruddock, and Dominic Ryan for their senior debuts after impressive displays in the British and Irish Cup.
Hooker Bernard Jackman took over the captain's armband from the rested O'Driscoll for the trip to Rodney Parade.
The Welsh side had won seven in a row in all competitions at Rodney Parade since Munster triumphed in March and Leinster never looked like troubling Paul Turner's well-drilled side.
With a gusty wind, Arlidge missed a close-range penalty in the third minute but the hosts broke the deadlock two minutes later.
Lock Rob Sidoli won a routine lineout and a slick passing move among the backs, Brew opened the scoring from Jason Tovey's pass.
Fergus McFadden spurned the opportunity to cut the deficit for Leinster when the centre pulled a penalty attempt to the right-hand side of the posts.
But he made amends in the 15th minute with a long-distance strike to level the scores.
The Dragons were back on top moments later when Arlidge took a quick tap and scored in the left corner despite the despairing dive of CJ van der Linde.
Turner's side had gained the upper hand in terms of possession, with more than 70 per cent to their name, and momentum and although Ian McKinley produced a deft drop goal in the 27th minute, Wayne Evans showed just why he is the form scrumhalf in Wales with great support play to pounce for the third try after neat work by Gavin Thomas, Brew and Rhodri Gomer-Davies.
The home side could have gone further ahead had centre Tom Riley held onto Richard Fussell's reverse pass.
Then the impressive fullback Tovey cut through the Leinster defence again but Eoin O'Malley saved the day with a last-ditch tackle.
But it was only a matter of time before the Dragons claimed the crucial bonus point when Wales lock Luke Charteris started another fine move by taking yet another valuable lineout and Tovey's pass allowed Fussell to finish in the 35th minute.
Tovey then stepped up to convert from the touchline to cap an excellent half for the Gwent region.
McFadden and Tovey exchanged penalties after the interval before a glut of replacements disrupted the flow of the game.
Will Harries nearly scored with his first touch before outhalf Arlidge nudged the Dragons to the 30-point mark with his first penalty as the match petered out.
But Cheika's side ended the drab contest on a high as Kearney scored a well-worked try but McFadden missed the conversion.
The win puts the home side level on points with Leinster ahead of the derby fixtures over the festive Christmas period.
NEWPORT-GWENT DRAGONS: J Tovey; A Brew, R Gomer-Davies, T Riley, R Fussell; J Arlidge, W Evans; H Gustafson, S Jones, P Palmer; R Sidoli, L Charteris; D Lydiate, G Thomas, G Webb. Replacements: M Thomas for Tovey (70), W Harries for Fussell (64), D Goodfield for S Jones (68), P Bracken for Palmer (74), A Jones for Sidoli (60), H MacDonald for Lydiate (68). Not Used: Lee.
LEINSTER: N Morris; D Kearney, E O'Malley, F McFadden, S Keogh; I McKinley, C Keane; R McCormack, B Jackman, CJ van der Linde; D Toner, M O'Kelly; R Ruddock, D Ryan, Stph Keogh.
Replacements: I Madigan for Morris (47), M Keating for McKinley (70), P O'Donohoe for Keane (58), M Ross for McCormack (47), T Hogan for O'Kelly (66), P Ryan for D Ryan (56); R McCormack for Van der Linde (73). Not Used: R Strauss.
Referee: Simon McDowell (RFU).
