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Leinster cut the gap on leaders Connacht to just two points with a hard-fought 19-16 victory over Ospreys at the RDS Arena on Saturday. Dan Leavy scored the only try of the first half as the hosts went in 16-3 ahead at the break, Ian Madigan kicking three penalties to go along with the conversion.However, the visitors hit back in the second half, Sam Davies knocking over a penalty and then converting after Dan Baker had powered his way through to score. Madigan and Davies then traded penalties to keep the gap at just three points heading into the last 10 minutes but it proved enough for the hosts as they held on to record their fourth straight win.Ospreys made a good start to the match and took the lead in the third minute as fly-half Davies overcame the blustery conditions to kick the games first points.The hosts responded well, though, and took the lead after quarter of an hour as Leavy went over to complete an incisive Leinster break. Madigan exploited a gap in the Ospreys defence before passing to Fergus McFadden, the winger advancing to the visitors 22 before offloading to Leavy who was able to run in unchallenged. Ian Madigan made the break to set up the Leinster try From there on Leo Cullens side bossed the first half and kept the pressure on, earning three penalties - all successfully dispatched by Madigan - to ease themselves into a 13-point lead by half-time.It was a different story after the interval, though, as Ospreys came out fighting and really took the game to Leinster.Davies nudged over another penalty before, in the 61st minute, Baker crashed over after a sustained spell of Ospreys possession in the Leinster 22.Davies made no mistake with the conversion but the try seemed to jolt Leinster back into life having seen their lead whittled down to just three points.The Dublin side quickly moved forward and soon earned another penalty that Madigan put between the posts to maintain his perfect record on the afternoon. No sooner had they extended their lead, however, Leinster were pegged back. Davies again finding his mark from the kicking tee.That set things up for a grandstand finish but is was not to be as Leinster used all of their experience to see out the final 10 minutes with relative ease. . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Trevor Story has a message for Colorado Rockies fans: Thank you.?In a handwritten note posted by the Rockies on Twitter, the rookie shortstop expressed his appreciation to the fans for supporting and embracing him during his rookie season.?The note reads:?Dear Fans,?Thank you for all the love and support this year, the best fans in the game. I also want to thank all of you for embracing me in my rookie year and making it special for me. Looking forward to a big 2017! Go Rox! Sincerrely, Trevor Story.ddddddddddddStory burst onto the scene in April, hitting a home run in each of his first four major league games. He finished with a .272 average, 27 home runs and 72 RBIs and was a candidate for the National League Rookie of the Year before an injury to his left thumb sidelined him for the final two months of the season.?--Alex Tekip ' ' '
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