Defending champions Leinster got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory over Newport at Donnybrook on Friday evening.

Leading 15-3 at the break, Leinster stole away in the second half to pick up only their second victory in Pool B, and a vital bonus point.

Leinster, however, are only hanging on by a thread to their Celtic League title and any further involvement will depend on the final series of games at the end of October.

It was all penalties in the opening period with Brian O'Meara knocking over five for Leinster against the sole effort from Newport's Jason Strange.

But Leinster began to flex their muscles on the resumption and tries from Denis Hickie, Shane Horgan, Leo Cullen and Malcolm O'Kelly put them firmly in control.

Paul Young touched down for the Black and Ambers while Strange and O'Meara traded a couple of penalties each before the end.

Leinster: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, D D'Arcy; C Warner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Wallace, L Cullen, M O'Kelly, E Miller, K Gleeson, V Costello
Replacements: E Byrne, P Smith, A Kearney, D Dillon, B O'Riordan, A Magro, K Lewis

Newport: S Howarth; A Cadwallader, M Mostyn, S Williams, L Nabaro; J Strange, O Tonu'u; C Jones, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui (capt), M Voyle, J Powell, J Forster, A Powell
Replacements: C Anthony, P Young, S Ojomoh, G Gravell, A Wagstaff, M Hook, L Lane

Referee: Iain Ramage (Scotland).