Leinster send Bath packing

European Cup Pool Two/Leinster - 30 Bath - 11: Shaun Edwards, assistant coach at Wasps and former rugby league legend, observed during last season's European Cup that "attacks win matches but defences win championships and cups". If that observation is borne out over this year's tournament then Leinster's performance at Lansdowne Road on Saturday augurs well.

Bath dominated possession and territory yet were handed a salutary lesson: it's not how often you have the ball it's what you do with it. Leinster haven't quite managed to loose the shackles of mediocrity with their back play but when they do manage the odd cameo it's usually lethal.

It's not so much a shortcomings in patterns as individual errors in decision-making or execution that undermine some good passages of play. Brian O'Driscoll kicked twice with men outside and there were a couple of other times when a Leinster player didn't straighten and release the ball. On other occasions opportunities to pass early and support the runner were spurned.

These glitches will surely pass with time and playing together on a regular basis.

Ireland's defensive coach Mike Ford has worked with Leinster this season and his guidance and the players' hard work appear to be paying off. The province unearthed defence off-the-front-foot, in-your-face variety, where the primary objective is to stop the momentum of the ball carrier.

Bath's pack is acknowledged as one of the meatiest in the Zurich Premiership. Leinster hit them on the gain line and kept driving forward. Their driving lineout is celebrated across the Irish Sea but apart from one or two occasions, it was stopped at source or forced to crab sideways.

Bath coach John Connolly, gracious in defeat, acknowledged his side had come up against streetwise opponents. "They're a very good side with Test experience, capable of handling pressure games. We had a lot of field and possession but if you don't get quick ball then you're going to find it difficult. They defended incredibly well out there."

Leinster also possessed a cutting edge their opponents lacked. They scored three tries through Denis Hickie, Gordon D'Arcy - television suggested Bath flanker Michael Lipman might have dislodged the ball before it was grounded legitimately - and Shane Horgan, and in outhalf David Holwell had the game's outstanding performer.

The New Zealander produced a wonderful display in every facet of the game. He kicked five from as many opportunities with the placed ball, two from close to the touchline and a third from 45 metres, but his distribution, vision, tactical interpretation, bravery in the tackle and work-rate were also hugely impressive, while his line-kicking wasn't that shabby either.

Holwell, though, would be the first to acknowledge the performance of the pack. They scrummaged aggressively, to referee Nigel Williams' approval, while the official took a dislike to the body positions of Bath tighthead Duncan Bell and more pointedly, his replacement Matt Stevens.

Leinster's lineout was a considerable improvement on last week but on the day still had to give second best to Bath's. The difference, though, was Leinster mixed their options well, taking the odd catch and drive but more often looking to take ball off the top. Bath had no Plan B.

Victor Costello - added to the Ireland squad last night, a reflection on his form for his province - again shouldered the ball-carrying duties, making yardage while shutting down his opposite number Zak Feaunati. He was ably assisted by Eric Miller and young openside Shane Jennings, who looked more assured than the previous week.

Once again the work-rate of Leo Cullen and Mal O'Kelly was prodigious, as was that of the tight five in general. Reggie Corrigan led by example. The Leinster backs tantalised with flashes of brilliance but they should back their ability more often.

There was a cussedness to Bath's forward play but their backs simply couldn't make any indentation. The loss of Brendon Daniel in the warm-up and Robbie Fleck after 19 minutes was debilitating as was the placement of Chris Malone, an outhalf by trade, at full back. The English club have been destroyed by injury in this position.

Holwell and Ollie Barkley exchanged penalties before Hickie grabbed Leinster's first try. O'Driscoll surged powerfully before releasing the left wing whose pace took him past the first tackler and neat footwork allowed him to elude Malone's insipid tackle.

The home side coughed up a similar score virtually from the kick-off; too many under a high ball without anyone actually taking command culminated in a try for Alex Crockett.

In the second half Leinster nudged ahead with a wonderful long-range drop goal from D'Arcy only to allow Barkley to strike back with a soft penalty to make it 13-11.

Holwell responded in kind before Darcy broke the game open wide. All the principals in the back line were involved as D'Arcy showed great bravery to struggle over in the corner.

When Shane Horgan, wriggled free of a tackle on 75 minutes, dummied Malone and skated in under the posts, a bonus point became a possibility but it was Bath who finished the match in the ascendancy.

Declan Kidney has asserted that his team have improved with each game and the evidence was there once again.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 12 mins: Holwell penalty, 3-0; 19: Barkley penalty, 3-3; 26: Hickie try, Holwell conversion, 10-3; 28: Crockett try, 10-8. Half-time: 10-8. 44: D'Arcy drop goal, 13-8; 52: Barkley penalty, 13-11; 54: Holwell penalty, 16-11; 67: D'Arcy try, Holwell conversion, 23-11; 75: Horgan try, Holwell conversion, 30-11.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, D Hickie; D Holwell, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne; M O'Kelly, L Cullen; E Miller, V Costello, S Jennings. Replacements: R Nebbett for E Byrne (h-t); G Brown for D'Arcy (68 mins); A McCullen for Costello (70 mins); G Easterby for O'Meara (80 mins).

BATH: C Malone; A Higgins, R Fleck, M Tindall, A Crockett; O Barkley, M Wood; D Barnes, J Humphreys (capt), D Bell, S Borthwick, D Grewcock, A Beattie, I Feanuti, M Lipman. Replacements: S Davey for Fleck (19 mins); L Mears for Humphreys (23-31 mins); M Stevens for Bell (38 mins); N Walshe for Davey (39-43 mins); Mears for Humphreys (48 mins); R Fidler for Grewcock (65 mins); G Delve for Feaunati, Walshe for Wood (both 70 mins); J Scaysbrook for Lipman (77 mins).

Referee: N Williams (Wales).