Cardiff Blues 20 - 29 Leinster: McFadden lights Leinster

LEINSTER went top of the Magners League with an efficient if unspectacular victory over Cardiff Blues which owed much to their power in the scrum, allied to a 21-point haul by centre Fergus McFadden.

The Blues, who had won five in a row in all competitions, had an abundance of possession despite their troubles in the tight, but lacked penetration.

They now face serious problems in next season's Heineken Cup, with the Scarlets now just two points behind them with a game in hand in the battle for the third Welsh slot.

Lost possession in midfield allowed Leinster fly-half Shaun Berne to send Isa Nacewa up the wing and although the Irish were kept at bay, they recycled the ball and McFadden took an excellent angle to cross beneath the posts. The centre added the conversion, followed by a penalty after the Blues had once again spilled the ball.

The home side finally got it right and prop Gary Powell – later to leave on a stretcher with an Achilles injury – squeezed in at the corner, but another McFadden penalty kept Leinster in front.

With the normally reliable Ben Blair off key in his attempts at the posts, the Blues opted to kick for position and it paid off when flanker Sam Warburton, released from Wales duty, dived over and Blair finally succeeded with the conversion.

McFadden struck another penalty with the last kick before the break, but the Blues began the second half with a sparkling attack which saw left wing Chris Czekaj score in the corner to put the Welshmen ahead.

Their lead did not last. A superb break by Eoin O'Malley took Leinster into the Blues' 22 and the centre found tireless hooker Bernard Jackman on his shoulder for a try, McFadden slotting the simple conversion.

The Blues then lost fly-half Ceri Sweeney to the sin-bin for what was harshly ruled a spear tackle on opposite number Berne, but the home side survived the ten minutes without leaking any further points.

But Berne then dropped a goal which extended Leinster's lead and robbed the Blues of a losing bonus point. They seemed to have retrieved it when Sweeney kicked a late penalty, only for McFadden to step up and slot a penalty from halfway with the final kick of the game.