Leinster's Chris Whitaker tackles Munster's Rua Tipoki

Leinster (12) 21
Penalties: Contepomi (6)
Drop goals: Sexton

Munster (6) 12
Penalties: O'Gara (2), Warwick (2)

Leinster continued their march towards the Magners League title with a 21-12 win over provincial rivals Munster.

The league leaders led 12-6 at the interval courtesy of four penalties by Felipe Contepomi to two successful penalty attempts by Ronan O'Gara.

Contepomi added two further penalties after half-time and Jonathan Sexton executed an audacious drop goal.

Paul Warwick kicked two penalties for Munster, who had Rua Tipoki sin-binned for a high tackle on Luke Fitzgerald.

Flowing rugby proved difficult in very wet conditions and Contepomi started the kicking contest by landing three penalties in the opening 20 minutes.

O'Gara reduced the deficit to three points with two kicks of his own and then Doug Howlett denied Rob Kearney a try scoring opportunity when he tackled the Ireland winger as he appeared certain to touch down in the corner.

Contepomi was again on target with a penalty attempt from just inside the Munster half in first-half injury-time.

Replacement Warwick brought Munster to within three points again but Contepomi restored Leinster's advantage after another infringement.

Peter Stringer was stretchered off midway thgrough the second period, and Warwick then kicked his second penalty of the game.

Tipoki was then sin-binned, reducing his side to 14 men, and a Contepomi penalty and Sexton's drop-goal completed the scoring.

Leinster are now 12 points ahead at the top of the table and are within a victory of claiming the title.

Leinster: G Dempsey, S Horgan, L Fitzgerald, F Contepomi, R Kearney, J Sexton, C Whitaker, O Le Roux, B Jackman, S Wright, L Cullen (capt), M O'Kelly, S Jennings, K Gleeson, J Heaslip.
Replacements (from): B Blaney, C Healy, S Knoop, T Hogan, S Keogh, C Keane, E O'Malley, M Berne, G Brown.

Munster : D Hurley, D Howlett, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling, R O'Gara (capt), P Stringer, T Buckley, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan, D Leamy, A Foley.
Replacements: F Sheahan, F Pucciariello, P O'Connell, N Ronan, T O'Leary, P Warwick, K Lewis.