Contepomi magic edges Lions to win over battling Borders

Border Reivers 34 Leinster 35

Roared on by a small but noisy crowd, the Reivers mounted a dramatic second-half fightback before being pipped by the narrowest of margins.

Not for the first time in this fixture, Felipe Contepomi was Leinster’s hero, topping off his typically efficient kicking with a brace of tries, including the score 10 minutes from the finish that pushed his side get back in front.

From the start all the running was made by Leinster, and it was no surprise when they went in front with a try by Jamie Heaslip after just seven minutes, the number 8 finishing off a catch-and-drive move from a lineout in the right corner.

Calum MacRae, the Borders centre who was named man of the match, kept his side in the hunt with a stream of penalties. However, Leinster continued to play bold rugby and claimed a second try through prop Ronan McCormack in the 22nd minute.

The Borders collected their first touchdown shortly before half-time when full-back Stuart Moffat thrust over from short range. Leinster, however, earned their bonus point before the break with further tries by Will Green and Contepomi.

Former British and Irish Lions fly-half Gregor Townsend darted over for the Borders’ second try six minutes after the interval.

Four minutes later, they moved ahead for the first time when Scotland wing Nikki Walker raced through to put the Scots 31-30 in front.

But Contepomi came to Leinster’s rescue yet again, powering past some flimsy home defence for his side’s fifth try. MacRae responded with his fifth penalty but the Borders could not find the edge in the closing stages to snatch a win that would have been the biggest shock of the Celtic League season.

BORDER REIVERS: S Moffat; S Danielli, B MacDougall (J King, 70), C MacRae, N Walker; G Townsend, B McKerchar; T McGee (P Thomson, 73), S Scott, B Douglas (capt), S MacLeod, O Palepoi (C Stewart, 56), J Dalziel, S Gray (S Sititi, 50), K Brown (A Miller, 75).

Scorers: Tries: Moffat, Townsend, Walker Conversions: MacRae 2 Penalties: MacRae 5.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; R Kearney, B O’Driscoll, S Horgan, D Hickie; F Contepomi, G Easterby; R McCormack (E Byrne, 56), B Blaney, W Green, B williams, M O’ Kelly, N Ronan (C Jowitt, 50), K Gleeson, J Heaslip.

Scorers: Tries: Heaslip, McCormack, Green, Contepomi 2 Conversions: Contepomi 2 Penalties: Contepomi 2.

Referee: N Ballard (Wales).

* Ireland prop Reggie Corrigan has announced his retirement from international rugby. The 35-year-old won 47 caps and captained his country twice since his Test debut in 1997.

He played at two World Cups and helped Ireland win the Triple Crown in 2004. His last cap came against France in this year’s RBS Six Nations Championship.

He will keep playing for Leinster but his decision comes 24 hours after fly-half David Humphreys announced his retirement from Test rugby. He did not feature in any of Ireland’s other Six Nations matches.

Humphreys announced his retirement from Test rugby on Thursday, though the 34-year-old will continue to play for Ulster next season.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan said: “David and Reggie have been wonderful servants to the Ireland team.”

Corrigan’s Test career may be over, but he will lock horns with Horan when Leinster take on Munster in their Heineken Cup semi-final at Lansdowne Road later this month.