Last-gasp Leinster sink Scarlets
Fergus McFadden, who scored all of his side's points, landed a dramatic late penalty to earn Leinster a 16-13 victory over the Scarlets.
Last Updated: 17/02/12 10:57pm
Fergus McFadden, who scored all of his side's points, landed a dramatic late penalty to earn Leinster a last-gasp 16-13 victory over the Scarlets in Dublin on Friday night.
McFadden coolly slotted the kick from outside the 10-metre line as Leinster remained on course for a home semi-final berth in the RaboDirect PRO12.
Aiming to put themselves back in the play-off picture, the Scarlets impressed in the first half and were 10-3 to the good at half-time thanks to a Dan Newton try.
McFadden's early second-half try got Leinster level and Newton and McFadden then swapped penalties, before the Ireland international had the final, decisive say.
With the aid of a wind advantage the Scarlets settled quickly and were first on the board when Stephen Jones kicked a penalty to punish a ruck infringement from Sean Cronin, but Leinster were back level within three minutes.
Fionn Carr raised the tempo with a slashing midfield run and, with Kieran Murphy going off his feet at a ruck, McFadden converted the kicking opportunity.
Jones missed a long-range attempt to respond before Leinster stepped it up again, turning defence into attack with Cronin securing turnover ball.
Just minutes later, the Scarlets looked vulnerable as they defended a maul, but a combination of Josh Turnbull and Rhodri Jones prevented Jack McGrath from touching down.
Defences on top
Defences were on top until the 24th minute when the visitors struck for a well-executed first try. Leinster were caught cold as Deacon Manu sprung clear from a midfield ruck, he passed for Johnathan Edwards and Newton was up in support to finish the move off to the right of the posts.
Jones converted for a seven-point advantage and that is how things stood at the break, with McFadden sending a difficult left-sided penalty wide of the posts.
Leinster did build for a final crescendo and Liam Williams was fortunate to avoid a punishment for a deliberate knock-on as Isa Nacewa attacked out wide.
With the rain dying down for the start of the second half, Leinster seized their chance with a try after just 59 seconds. McFadden's quick feet led to Scott Williams slipping and the Leinster centre ghosted through the gap and muscled his way over beneath the posts. He added the extras to square the sides up.
New England cap Ben Morgan was introduced for the Scarlets soon after and, with Jones withdrawn, Newton stepped in at outside-half and also booted an excellent penalty from distance.
Two minutes later, McFadden closed the gap again and Leinster engineered more pressure as replacements Leo Auva'a and Richard Strauss tried to punch holes in the Scarlets defence.
The Welsh region stood up to the task and their defensive line held firm until replacement Damian Welch infringed at a ruck. McFadden, however, watched his kick at goal drift away to the right.
The game seemed destined for a stalemate when Nigel Davies' men won a relieving penalty with time almost up.
But Leinster managed to snaffle the ball back onto their side, and a final ruck offence from Scarlets replacement prop Phil John allowed McFadden complete his match-winning 16-point haul.
