Leinster 20
Connacht 12
Connacht’s odds of overcoming Leinster in the annual Dublin festive fixture are usually regarded as slim, but Pete Wilkins’ side ensured they maintained their fighting chances to the very end.
Leinster, boasting some 175 international caps, including former All Black Jordie Barrett with 67, were made to work hard for the victory, as Connacht delivered a performance befitting the occasion at the Aviva Stadium.
And although Leo Cullen’s side included several youngsters, the heavy brigade ensured they snuck this fixture and denied Connacht a deserved bonus point with the last kick of the game.
It had not looked promising when Leinster had taken a 17-0 lead, but Pete Wilkins’ outfit staged a second-half recovery, taking the game to their opponents to narrow the gap to 17-12 by the 60th minute. However, they were eventually denied in the dying embers of the game - Leinster wining a late penalty which Ross Byrne converted on the final whistle.
It had taken Leinster 19 minutes before they opened the scoring, Andrew Osbourne scoring the try, with the home side having dominated the early exchanges. It had come from a line-out, with Osbourne running a superb line at pace through the centre to touch down, and Ross Byrne adding the extras.
Connacht were not helped with a mounting penalty count, which not only allowed Leinster to capitalise, but limited Connacht’s ability to get inside the Leinster 22 in the face of a strong defensive effort from the home side. Nor were they helped by a yellow card to Shane Jennings, while an opportunity went abegging when Leinster's Gus McCarthy turned over possession.
Within a minute of Jennings’ absence, Leinster struck for their second try, taking advantage of a penalty to touch. Max Deegan was influential before Charlie Tector stepped through the Connacht midfield to score what was an easy try in the 27th minute after a tip-on pass from Barrett. Ross Byrne converted to put his side into a 14-0 lead, and it was not looking good for the visitors.
Connacht wrested possession for a brief period, with Darragh Murray having stolen a line-out, but they could not make any headway in what was a meandering opening half. And it did not get any better for Connacht when Byrne kicked a 43rd minute penalty to extend the lead to 17-0.
However, Connacht began to grab control, gaining territory and possession. Working hard at the breakdown, and finding space, they began to carve opportunities. Three successiv penalties provided opportunities, but Dave Heffernan was stopped just shy of the line, and similarly Paul Boyle was just short of the line. Eventually they were rewarded with a first try by Oisin Dowling - Heffernan and Aungier having made the initial surges.
Forde missed the conversion, but Wilkins’ side continued to up their tempo with Hurley-Langton and Jennings prominent in their efforts to keep Connacht in the contest. Hansen, Forde, and Murray kickstarted an attack that led to Connacht’s first try. Aki added impetus with powerful run up the left wing, but it was Cordero’s counter-attack that set in motion the try. Hansen then sent Aki up the left wing, and in the next phase Prendergast found Shane Jennings who stormed over for the second try, with Forde adding the extras.
Only five points in arrears, it gave Connacht real hope with 20 minutes remaining, but Leinster saw out the game, thanks to a last-minute penalty, denying Connacht a deserved bonus point.
Leinster: J O’Brien; A Arenzana-King (H Byrne 62 ), C Tector, J Barrett, A Osborne; R Byrne, L McGrath (J Gibson-Park 51 ); J Boyle (M Milne 51 ), G McCarthy (L Barron 51 ), R Slimani (C Healy 51 ); D Mangan (B Deeny 75 ), RG Snyman; A Soroka, S Penny, J Conan (capt ) (M Deegan 22 ) (R Baird 33 ).
Connacht: P O’Conor; M Hansen, C Forde, B Aki, S Jennings; J Ioane (S Cordero 32 ), B Murphy (C Blade 52 ); D Buckley (J Duggan 64 ), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin 58 ), F Bealham (J Aungier 52 ); J Murphy (O Dowling 52 ), D Murray; C Prendergast (capt ), S Hurley-Langton (C Oliver 64 ), P Boyle (S Jansen 52 ).
Referee: C Busby (IRFU ).
