Stunning tries from Allister Hogg, John Houston and Simon Webster handed Edinburgh a 21-point lead against shell-shocked champions Leinster at Murrayfield inside the opening 26 minutes.

But the home side were unable to maintain that same tempo during a turgid second half in EH12 with Fergus McFadden striking three consolation penalties for the away side and John Fogarty scoring a try to give Edinburgh an unexpected second half scare.

Nevertheless, Edinburgh, with captain Mike Blair and hooker Ross Ford in imperious form, deservedly recorded their sixth successive home win and moved into third place in the Magners League table.

Vice captain Hogg led by example and finished off an enterprising move by powering over the line. Captain Mike Blair sparked off the move and his pass was fed through by Phil Godman to Hogg. With Leinster's Simon Keogh struggling with a leg injury, Edinburgh winger John Houston made the numerical advantage count and finished off a sparkling move by dotting down under the posts. Then Blair turned on the style with a stunning pass to put Webster through.

Chris Paterson added three conversions with his trusty right boot with Edinburgh completely dominating. 

Edinburgh : Chris Paterson, John Houston, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, Simon Webster, Phil Godman (D. Blair), Mike Blair (capt), Kyle Traynor, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross (Grant), Craig Hamilton (MacLeod), Jim Hamilton, Scott Newlands (Mustchin), Alan MacDonald, Allister Hogg.
Replacements: Andrew Kelly, Ryan Grant, Scott MacLeod, Matt Mustchin, Greig Laidlaw, David Blair, Andrew Turnbull.
Leinster: Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Fergus McFadden, Gordon D'Arcy, Simon Keogh, Isa Nacewa, Chris Keane, Ronan McCormack, John Fogarty, Stephen Knoop, Leo Cullen (capt), Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Sean O'Brien, Stephen Keogh.
Replacements: Brian Blaney, Ollie le Roux, Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Paul O'Donohoe, Ian McKinley, Gary Brown.

Tries: Hogg 11, Houston 20, Webster 25

Conversions: Paterson 12, 22

Penalties: Paterson 51, 63

Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)

Attendance: 2747