Cool comeback lifts Leinster
Leinster fought back from a 12-point deficit to claim a 30-12 victory over fellow Irish outfit Connacht in the RaboDirect Pro 12.
Last Updated: 08/10/11 8:25pm
Leinster fought back from a 12-point deficit to claim a 30-12 victory over fellow Irish outfit Connacht in the RaboDirect Pro 12.
Ray Ofisa and Brian Tuohy both scored converted tries as the unfancied visitors surged into a deserved 20-8 lead after Devin Toner had crossed first for Leinster
But the home side produced a second-half turnaround as Isa Nacewa kicked a string of penalties and Luke Fitzgerald's crossed for a 65th-minute try, with a late drop goal from Ian Madigan taking the losing bonus point away from Connacht.
The visitors were first on the board as Niall O'Connor drilled a ninth-minute penalty through the uprights, but the score only served to spark Leinster into life.
Nacewa kicked Leinster level as Connacht prop Dylan Rogers sent to the sin-bin for cynical play but the away side clawed back territory and O'Connor eventually made it 6-3.
A surging run from Nacewa got Leinster back on the attack and Toner raced onto a pass from Willis and barged past last man Matthew Jarvis for a 20th-minute try.
Nacewa could not add the extras and Connacht then began force the issue in the second quarter.
A long, inviting pass from Niall O'Connor allowed Ofisa to ghost inside David Kearney for a try which the creator converted.
Advantage
With their confidence boosted, Connacht stretched their advantage to 12 after a neatly-taken try from Tuohy, who gathered Henry Fa'afili's pass and slipped past Nacewa to score.
However, Leinster recovered their poise in the early stages of the second half and Nacewa landed two successive penalties to reduce the arrears to 20-14.
Tuohy roused Connacht with a spirited kick chase up the left wing, but he knocked on when attempting to regain possession and further indiscipline from Connacht allowed Madigan to send over a huge penalty in wet conditions.
The hosts then took the lead when replacement prop Nathan White helped Leinster win a scrum against the head before Leo Auva'a powered off the base and Willis played in Fitzgerald to slip over by the posts.
Nacewa converted and then added another penalty as the visitors' challenge slipped away.
A Connacht struggling with injury and illness were unable to respond and a drop goal from Madigan completed the scoring on the stroke of full-time.
