Leinster climbed into second place in the Guinness PRO12 with a convincing 25-14 derby win over arch rivals Munster at the Aviva Stadium. The two captains, Peter OMahony and Isa Nacewa, scored tries during a bruising first half, with Jonathan Sextons two early penalties helping Leinster to lead 11-7 at the break.Leo Cullens men put clear daylight between the teams with tries either side of the hour mark from Nacewa and replacement scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, before South African recruit Jaco Taute claimed a consolation score for gallant Munster. The clash ahead of next months autumn internationals for Ireland, two of which are against New Zealand, contained a number of intriguing match-ups - from Rob Kearney versus Simon Zebo at full-back right through to the two power-packed back rows.The fit-again OMahony - back for his first start since tearing knee ligaments at last years Rugby World Cup - coughed up a lineout penalty which man-of-the-match Sexton sent over for a fifth-minute lead. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen praised his sides defensive strength that helped beat Munster in the PRO12. Lovely interplay from Garry Ringrose and Sexton, deep in their own half, created the first try-scoring opportunity for Nacewa but Zebo thwarted him with a terrific tackle in the left corner.A second Sexton penalty, straight in front of the posts, rewarded further Leinster pressure. Any time the visitors built momentum - notably from Darren Sweetnams soaring catch - the men in blue responded in kind, a bulldozing tackle from Jordi Murphy driving CJ Stander backwards. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Rory Scannells leg-pumping runs got Munster over the gain-line, and although their initial assaults were blighted by handling errors, the provinces attack clicked in the 25th minute when a powerful maul, involving backs and forwards, saw OMahony driven over from five metres out. Tyler Bleyendaals well-struck conversion from the left made it 7-6. Johnny Sexton was pleased with Leinsters win over Munster in the PRO12 and hopes momentum is building for the Dublin side as they look towards Europe. Ringrose missed a gilt-edged chance to respond, fumbling a bobbling kick through from Sexton with the try-line in sight. However, Leinster pinned Munster back in their 22 over an extended period and after Luke McGrath went close, a five-metre scrum allowed McGrath and Sexton to send Nacewa over on the blindside.The wingers unconverted effort, which took him past the 500-point mark in his Leinster career, restored the hosts lead, but they needed influential debutant Robbie Henshaw to lead a resolute defence on the resumption, as Munster came at them in wave after wave. Replacement prop James Cronin went closest to scoring before he was pinged for a double movement.Leinster soon showed their clinical edge with ball in hand to move 11 points clear. Ringrose punctured the Munster defence with a slashing 20-metre break and with numbers wide on the left, Sexton and Kearney fed Nacewa for a simple finish. Kearneys final pass looked suspiciously forward, but the try stood and Sexton swept over an excellent conversion for 18-7. Following the inter-pro derby between Leinster and Munster, Luke Fitzgerald, Alan Quinlan and Paul Wallace discuss the current state of Irish rugby Zero did well to avoid conceding from a dangerous grubber by Sexton, only for tiring Munster to cough up a third try in the 67th minute. Henshaws well-placed chip was fumbled near the whitewash by both Ronan OMahony and Bleyendaal, and Gibson-Park gleefully dotted the loose ball down for Nacewa to convert.The game lacked quality at times, with both sides having obvious areas to improve on ahead of next weeks European Rugby Champions Cup opener. The 40,527-strong crowd witnessed one final try, Munster driving up close before Zebos well-timed pass sent replacement Taute over in the 73rd minute. Bleyendaal swung over a textbook conversion from the left, but the bonus-point push never came.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. 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Sharapova had a much easier time earlier in the day with cooler conditions and took full advantage in 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) win over Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, while Radwanska had to rally for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Sale Football Jerseys Throwback . Not only that, when Julian de Guzman first stepped on the pitch for Deportivo de la Coruna he became the very first Canadian to play in Spains top tier. CHICAGO -- The pitch was just a tick up, and Starlin Castro was ready. When Edwin Jackson was limited to five innings, the bullpen took over. Pedro Alvarezs drive fell short on the warning track. These are fun days for the improving Chicago Cubs. Castro hit a three-run homer and Jackson finally got the better of Charlie Morton, leading the Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. "This is the nicest Ive felt about this team since Ive been here," said Anthony Rizzo, who was acquired in a January 2012 trade with San Diego. Chris Coghlan added a solo shot as the Cubs opened a 10-game homestand with their fourth win in five games. Last-place Chicago also improved to 18-13 since May 17 for the best record in the NL in that stretch. "Everything in this game is contagious, whether its positive, negative, hitting, defence, pitching," Coghlan said. "I think were having more team at-bats." Jackson (5-7) was removed after 86 pitches due to cramps in his calves, but it was enough to get his first win in four matchups this year against Morton (4-8). The right-handers have faced off more than any other pair of starting pitchers this season in the majors. Jackson allowed three runs on Jordy Mercers fifth homer and five hits. He struck out eight and walked two in just his second win in his last six starts. Alvarez had a chance to tie the game when he came to the plate with two on and two out in the sixth. He took a frustrated hop between first and second as Ryan Sweeney ran down his long fly ball in the biggest part of the ballpark. Andrew McCutchen struck out with two on in the seventh, wasting another Pittsburgh threat. "Pitchings been pretty great all year. The offence is coming around, and the defence is coming around as well," Jackson said. "So were definitely showing a glimpse of what were able to do. Its just going out and doing it on a consistent basis." Pittsburgh rookie Gregory Polanco opened the game with a single to centre, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He is the first NL player to begin his career with such a streak since Juan Pierres 16-game run for Colorado in 2000.dddddddddddd The Pirates have lost four of five since a four-game winning streak. Morton retired six in a row before Jacksons one-out single in the third started a string of five consecutive batters reaching safely. Rizzo lined a two-run double into the right-field corner before Castro drove an 0-2 curveball over the wall in left for his 11th homer, moving past his total from all of last year. Morton jerked his head down in disgust when Castro connected, and then turned around to see where the ball was going. Castros third homer of the season against Morton gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead. "I could have gotten the ball down a little bit more," Morton said. "I dont think it was a bad pitch. It was a bad pitch to him in that situation." The six runs in six innings were a season high for Morton, who had won each of his last three starts and was 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA in his previous five outings. Mercer went deep after Jackson walked the first two batters in the fifth, but that was it for the Pirates. Four Cubs relievers combined for three innings of two-hit ball before Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. Jason Grilli pitched the eighth for the Pirates in his first outing since manager Clint Hurdle removed the right-hander from the closer role. Grilli has blown four save opportunities this season after converting 33 of 35 chances a year ago. "Better rhythm, a better execution of pitches," Hurdle said when asked about Grillis inning. NOTES: Hurdle said before the game that Mark Melancon will close for now, and he also could use Tony Watson in save opportunities. ... Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he is pleased with Manny Ramirezs impact on the organization so far, and the former major league star could join Triple-A Iowa next week. When Ramirez reports to Iowa, he will be a player-coach for Chicagos top farm club. ... Epstein also said he doesnt forsee a scenario where prospect Kris Bryant joins the major league club this year. ... Pirates RHP Vance Worley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and Cubs LHP Travis Wood (7-5, 4.48 ERA) face off on Saturday. ' ' '