Henley never shirked, just tired, and that is when Worcester started to turn their power and possession into points.Not enough to score the fourth try that would have earned them a bonus point, however, a point that may prove crucial at the end of the season. Their disappointment was visible at the final whistle, nothing more than a full quota of points proving satisfactory against the lower clubs in the league, but their finishing will be improved next week in the crunch match against Rotherham with the return of Winston Stanley, a proven winger with Leicester Tigers last season.Already the season looks like developing into a two-club battle for the solitary promotion spot and next week will test the wisdom and quality of the imports.Henley: J Barnes; B Rowland, R Osman, I Tuivai (Stebbings, 53), T Holloway (Davies, 63); B Reeves, B Ayres (Smyle, 75); C Hannon (Fuller, 78), L Hall (capt; Harbinson , 50), D Brett, A Moxin, S Tyler (Pettermerides, 60), A Metcalfe, B Pegna (Street, 60), A Mortimore.Worcester: B Hinshelwood; C Garrard, G Trueman, C Yates, C Wilks; T Yapp, R Smith; T Windo (Collins, 75), J Ross (Pellow, 73), N Lyman (Moreno, 63), D Sims, M Morgan, B Clarke, K Jones (capt), J Jenner (Evans, 63).Referee: Stuart Terheege (England).. Leinster’s victory, through four excellent tries and a 100 per cent goal-kicking performance from fly-half Nathan Spooner, showed the gulf in creativity existing between them and a poor Swansea side. Leinster’s victory, through four excellent tries and a 100 per cent goal-kicking performance from fly-half Nathan Spooner, showed the gulf in creativity existing between them and a poor Swansea side.
The visitors arrived as the only team in the Celtic League competition with a 100 per cent record, and having already won their pool they could afford to travel with only a handful of their first team, leaving at home stars such as Brian O’ Driscoll, Shane Hogan and Malcolm O’Kelly to prepare for Ireland’s clash with Scotland next weekend.However, they displayed a willingness to keep the ball alive and to hand that reflects excellent preparation and a constructive and effective coaching regime.In contrast, Swansea’s third consecutive home defeat signalled the end of their Celtic League involvement, and save for six penaltties by Arwel Thomas, was an embarrassment that could even be described as a disgrace for the All Whites’ playing and coaching staff.It is widely acknowledged that rugby is a contact sport, and Swansea appeared intent on taking that description in its literal sense. Not for them the open spaces where fleet-of-foot threequarters can flourish, but good old, crash, bang, wallop and down the narrow channel in a style that is sadly symptomatic of Welsh rugby in general.The weekend’s activities sign off a miserable period for the Welsh clubs, who have won just two of the 17 fixtures against Irish sides. The competition itself has proved to be a success, but it has served to highlight the stagnation of the game’s development in Wales.The disappointing crowd that did show up, with Swansea not even able to blame live television on this occasion, were treated to a lively, if not quality, affair. In the opening quarter, Arwel Thomas had nonchalantly stroked over three penalties, with opposite number Spooner – a lovely kicker of a ball, both out of hand and at goal – replying with a penalty and two excellent conversions of Leinster’s first two tries.

Both were scored by their wingers, first Simon Keogh, then John McWeeney, benefiting from well-crafted, phased play from backs and forwards, and their patience rewarded with well-worked overlaps for the speed merchants.Thomas added his fourth penalty before the interval only for Leinster to cross again, when full-back Peter McKenna broke left from a midfield scrum, skimmed the Swansea defence and expertly drew Kevin Morgan before firing the scoring pass to the supporting McWeeney. Spooner converted.Despite Leinster’s dominance, Thomas reduced the deficit to nine points within minutes of the restart with his fifth and sixth penalties against one from Spooner and Swansea seemed to be back in contention – or so the faithful may have hoped.Leinster thought otherwise and responded by showing Swansea a thing or two in the creative stakes, when wave after wave of blue-shirted attacks prised open enough daylight for highly impressive scrum-half Ben Willis to pick up at leisure and coast over for the Leinster clincher. Spooner converted to seal an exemplary run of games for Leinster and to pour misery on Swansea’s season.Swansea: K Morgan, R Rees, S Payne, G Henson, M Robinson, T Thomas, Robert Jones (Robbie Jones 54), J Marsters, G Jenkins (C Wells 69), B Evans (le Chavelier 54), T Maullin (J Griffiths 54), A Moore (capt), C Charvis, D Thomas, H Jenkins (L Jones 70).Leinster: P McKenna, J McWeeney, A Magro, D Quinlan (B O’Meara 67), S Keogh (E Farrell 79), N Spooner, B Willis, P Coyle (S Baretto 56), G Hickie, N Treston, B Casey, L Cullen, T Brennan (Captain), L Toland (S Jennings 77), A McCullen.Referee: I Ramage (Scottish Rugby Union).. It’s an ill wind, even in the dastardly case of the spread of foot and mouth, that does nobody any good. Next week’s resumption of the 2001 Six Nations’ Championship presents a golden opportunity for Ireland’s Easterby brothers, Guy and Simon, which might not have been theirs had the tournament been completed on time. Being sons of farming stock from north Yorkshire, however, they greet the unusual turn of events with equanimity. It’s an ill wind, even in the dastardly case of the spread of foot and mouth, that does nobody any good.

Next week’s resumption of the 2001 Six Nations’ Championship presents a golden opportunity for Ireland’s Easterby brothers, Guy and Simon, which might not have been theirs had the tournament been completed on time. Being sons of farming stock from north Yorkshire, however, they greet the unusual turn of events with equanimity.
The Easterbys’ path to glory has always strayed off the beaten track, even before the hiatus which sees the Irish take on Scotland, Wales and England in the space of the next five weeks, in search of the unlikeliest of Grand Slams. Guy, 30, and Simon, four years his junior, were born in Tadcaster and Harrogate respectively. Dad Henry farms 600 acres of arable Yorkshire land; his cousins, Mick and Peter, have made the Easterby name famous in the horseracing world, and Peter’s son Tim has followed in their hoofprints.The rugby boys attended a quintessential English public school, Ampleforth College, where Guy played scrum-half to Lawrence Dallaglio’s back-row forward.The Irish connection is mum Katherine, from Blackrock.