Wise old heads help Leinster hit summit

THE Magners League came down to a two-horse race as defending champions Leinster overtook Munster with a gutsy second-half display against the Ospreys.

Having failed to register a point in the first half, Gordon D’Arcy scored a try that was converted by Felipe Contepomi who also kicked two penalties as Leinster’s old heads got the better of the Ospreys youngsters.

It was hardly vintage stuff from the champions, but on such victories are titles won as Leinster dug themselves from having been out-played in the first half to winning what could yet be a crucial game in the battle for the Magners League crown.

The victory was enough to take Leinster a point ahead of Munster, who face Newport Gwent Dragons today.

Coach Michael Cheika said: “It wasn’t the prettiest of games and we know we didn’t play well in the first half. But we were able to step up through the gears in the second half, especially in that first 20 minutes.

“We’re starting to find the ability to dig out results and sometimes it’s about being plucky, rather than flashy. Last year the wins away from home got us the title, and this will be an important result in terms of the title.

“We’ll be cheering for Dragons as if there’s no tomorrow but it looks as if the title race will go down to the wire.”

Rocky Elsom went close early on but it was to be the only time Leinster threatened in a lacklustre first half display, which also saw Isa Nacewa left the fray on a stretcher with his right knee heavily strapped just ten minutes later.

Simon Keogh took his place on the left wing but it was in the scrums where Leinster needed an extra man, as Stan Wright struggled to get to grips with Ospreys captain Paul James.

With that platform, the young Ospreys backs had time and space to mount several ambitious moves from the training ground and Leinster were forced to scramble for the lives and feed off scraps of possession.

The Ospreys broke the deadlock on 36 minutes as Sonny Parker proved too strong to bring down, first for Cameron Jowitt, then Paul O’Donohoe, and Wright’s effort was too late to stop the Wales centre crawling over. Biggar’s conversion struck the post and the Ospreys led 5-0 at half time.

Jowitt made way for Sean O’Brien at half-time as coach Michael Cheika looked to reverse the flow of the game and it paid off immediately.

Contepomi stroked over a penalty from distance and Sexton’s cross-field kick saw Elsom almost put D’Arcy through. Dan Biggar missed a second penalty and Leinster felt the initiative swing their way.

Leinster stepped up the pressure and the Ospreys buckled as Filo Tiatia saw yellow. Contepomi converted the penalty to hand Leinster the lead for the first time, before giving his young opposite number Biggar a harsh lesson, brushing past before off-loading to D’Arcy who showed a neat step as well as plenty of determination to barge past the last defender and score between the posts.

Contepomi converted and Leinster were finally in control at 13-5 before digging in their heels for the final 20 minutes.

Scorers for Ospreys: Parker try; Biggar drp gl.

Scorers for Leinster: D’Arcy try; Contepomi 2 pens, con.

OSPREYS: G Owen; J Vaughton, S Parker, A Bishop, K Phillips; D Biggar, J Nutbrown; P James, E Shervington, C Griffiths; F Levi, A Lloyd; T Smith, M Holah, F Tiatia.

Replacements: J Spratt for Owen (60), D Bishop for K Phillips (14), S Baldwin for Shervington (80), C Mitchell for Griffiths (80), S Tandy for Lloyd (66).

LEINSTER: G Dempsey, S Horgan, F McFadden, G D’Arcy, I Nacewa, F Contepomi, P O’Donohoe; C Healy, B Jackman, S Wright, T Hogan, M O’Kelly, C Jowitt, S Jennings (capt), R Elsom.

Replacements: J Sexton for McFadden (48), S Keogh for Nacewa (25), C Whitaker for O’Donohoe (48), B Blaney for Jackman (50), D Toner for Hogan (60), S O’Brien for Jowitt (42).

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).