Home quarter-final the prize as Leinster overpower Bristol

Bristol Shoguns 12

Bristol made one change from the side that won 30-22 away to Monferrand with England wing Phil Christophers returning after a rib injury. The 22-year-old replaced Brendon Daniel who scored two tries in France but is sidelined for eight weeks with a broken thumb.

Fullback Girvan Dempsey returned to the Leinster side so Gordon D’Arcy switched back to his normal right wing spot with David Quinlan dropping to the bench.

Leinster had already qualified for the quarter-finals but needed a win to secure a home tie and avoid a repeat of last

Season when they slipped-up in the final pool game against Toulouse.

The Shoguns went into this game harbouring an outside chance of qualifying for the last eight as one of the two best runners-up. But to achieve that they knew they had to win and score nine tries or eight tries with a 45-point winning margin. Bristol applied the early pressure but were unable to breach the Lions line and it was the visitors who scored the first try. Aidan McCullen took the ball from the lineout and powered over the defence to touch down.

Scrumhalf Brian O’Meara added the conversion but missed a second five minutes later after Brian O’Driscoll held off a tackle from lock Alex Brown.

The Shoguns finally got on the score board with wing Christophers squeezing in at the corner.

Both sides had to reorganise their back line with Dempsey and Christophers limping off on the half hour. Denis Hickie reverted to fullback with Quinlan going to the wing while Martin Shaw went to the left wing for the home side.

The Shoguns let the Lions through for a third try as centre Shane Horgan pounced on a chip from outhalf Shane Warner.

The Lions were reduced to 14 men just before the interval when McCullen was sent to the sin-bin by Welsh referee Nigel Owens for persistent offside. Bristol took advantage of the extra man to score their second try five minutes into time added on.

Right wing David Rees took a long pass from Gibson to score in the left corner with Contepomi converting from the touchline. But it was Leinster who went into the break 17-12 in front and the Shoguns looking for seven tries in the second half.

Rees looked set to score his second try shortly after the restart but was bundled into touch just short of the line. The Shoguns then made another good break involving Gibson, Andrew Higgins, Brown, Agustin Pichot but hooker Paul Johnstone out wide lacked support.

Contepomi was yellow carded for hands in the ruck and O’Meara slotted over the penalty. McCullen completed the scoring for the visitors, seven minutes from time, as he beat off Pichot to score.

Shoguns head coach Peter Thorburn said afterwards: “Leinster are a well balanced side, whether their forwards could match those of Munster is questionable, but I think they have the potential to be the eventual tournament winners.”

BRISTOL: Best, Rees, Higgins, Gibson, Christophers, Contepomi, Pichot, Sheridan, Johnstone, White, Archer, A Brown, Salter, Oakley, Beattie.

Bristol tries: Christophers, Rees; convs: Contepomi.

LEINSTER: Dempsey, D. Hickie, O’Driscoll, Horgan, Darcy, Warner, O’Meara, Corrigan, E Byrne, McCullen, O’Kelly, Miller, Gleeson, Costello, S Byrne.

Leinster tries: McCullen 2, O’Driscoll, Horgan;

convs: O’Meara; pens: O’Meara.