Bennett leaves it late to clinch thrilling win

EDINBURGH 29 LEINSTER 24

Mark Bennett fired a message to Scotland boss Gregor Townsend as he snatched glory for Edinburgh in their Guinness PRO14 clash with Leinster at Myreside last night.

The centre powered in for a last-gasp try to sink the European stars and boost Edinburgh’s play off hopes.

The visitors had dominated the opening exchanges and it was no surprise when they broke the deadlock with a try by breakaway forward Max Deegan – goaled by Ross Byrne.

Edinburgh earned a penalty chance to repair some of the damage, but Jaco van der Walt pushed his 40-metre effort wide.

They kept up the pressure and were rewarded when flanker Luke Crosbie scored in the wake of a chargedown. Van der Walt equalised with the pinpoint conversion.

Even better was to come almost immediately. Bennett grabbed a turnover before Nathan Fowles finished in style.

Leinster’s response was quick and potent and they levelled the contest with a touchdown by lock Scott Fardy. Byrne found the target again. And the Dubliners capitalised on loose home defence to add another through Barry Daly.

But Richard Cockerill’s side ended the half in powerful fashion to set up a great try for new Scotland cap Murray McCallum.

Honours were even in the initial stages of the second half with both sides guilty of making many sloppy mistakes.

However, on the hour-mark it was the hosts who struck a big blow, thanks to a top-notch touchdown by winger Duhan van der Merwe.

The frantic action continued with Deegan notching his double to restore Leinster’s lead. But then came Bennett’s belter, converted by Sam Hidalgo-Clyne

Mark Bennett celebrates his last-gasp winning try for Edinburgh.