NOT LION DOWN
Leinster refuse to be beaten as they fight back to preserve their incredible unbeaten run 39
LEINSTER battled back from 15 points down to preserve their unbeaten United Rugby Championship record this season and secure a lastgasp victory over the Lions.
It was a cruel ending for the hosts who were exciting in attack and crossed for tries through Edwill van der Merwe, Gianni Lombard, Marius Louw and Francke Horn as well as being awarded a penalty try but the defeat was a blow to their play-off hopes.
Vakhtang Abdaladze, Liam Turner, Michael Milne, Rob Russell and Chris Cosgrave went over for Leinster as the Irish province secured a 16th win from 17 games.
It took Leinster just two minutes to open the scoring.
Abdaladze celebrated his first start for Leinster as he burst clear and had a 30-metre run to the line to touch down under the posts and Sam Prendergast added the conversion.
But Lions hit back after 13 minutes when Sanele Nohamba’s pass after a lineout-out win set wing van der Merwe away and he broke through a series of weak tackles to score.
The home side defended resolutely and after soaking up Leinster pressure Lombard scored his first URC try to give Lions the lead.
The fly-half kicked a loose ball forward and chased it down himself to touch down with Nohamba’s conversion putting the Lions 12-7 ahead.
Back came Leinster and the ball was played to outside centre Turner, who spotted a gap in the backline to burst clear and touch down in the corner with Prendergast restoring the lead. But a minute later the Lions responded with a superb try.
Lombard burst clear and offloaded to Van der Merwe, who sold a dummy to break clear and play a short pass to Nohamba and his behind-the-back pass found Louw to run in.
They extended their advantage when N0.8 Horn burst through four tackles to score in
the corner and secure the bonus point.
Leinster cut the gap six minutes after the break when Milne carried the ball from the back of a ruck to dive over.
The Lions were then awarded a penalty try after Cosgrave was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on to extend their lead to 15 points.
Prendergast booted a penalty before his chip enabled Russell to score in the right corner before Cosgrave weaved his way through and Prendergast’s kick levelled the scores.
Prendergast then sent over a penalty with the last kick of the game to win it. LIONS SCORERS: Tries: Van der Merwe, Lombard, Louw, Horn, Penalty. Pens: Nohamba. Cons: Nohamba (3). LEINSTER: Tries: Abdaladze, Turner, Milne, Russell, Cosgrave. Pens: Prendergast (2). Cons: Prendergast (4).