Hickie try seals victory for Leinster

Leinster 30 Ulster 23

Ulster lost their grip on top spot in the Celtic League as provincial rivals Leinster snatched victory thanks to Denis Hickie’s late try.

A second-minute error from Hickie had allowed Paddy Wallace in for an Ulster try but the Lions winger had the final say in a pulsating derby as he wriggled through Neil Best’s failed tackle to score a 75th-minute touchdown.

There was still time for Ulster prop Bryan Young to be sin-binned and a penalty apiece from kickers Felipe Contepomi, who top-scored with 20 points, and David Humphreys, but Ulster’s 100% start to the season was at an end.

Mark McCall’s side got the perfect start when Hickie fumbled as he retrieved Kieran Campbell’s box kick. James Topping charged up on Hickie and right-footed the loose ball towards the Leinster line for Paddy Wallace to score.

Humphreys converted but the silly errors which saw Ulster end last season as the most penalised team in the league allowed wind-backed Leinster to recover.

Contepomi landed penalties after five and 16 minutes to reduce the arrears to 7-6.

With Leinster’s new lock signing – Kiwi Bryce Williams – ruling in the lineout, Michael Cheika’s men gradually gained a foothold on territory and were over the Ulster line only for Kevin Maggs to hold up Hickie.

Leinster got their first try on 21 minutes when young flanker Ciaran Potts capitalised on a missed tackle from Wallace to cross in the left corner from Contepomi’s pass.

Although Leinster lost scrum-half Guy Easterby to concussion, Contepomi’s third penalty and an injury-time miss from Humphreys allowed them take a 14-7 advantage into the break.

While the second half’s first quarter was dominated by two penalties apiece from Contepomi and Humphreys, both Topping and Tommy Bowe had to be at their sharpest to keep out Leinster tries.

For all their ball-retention and potency, Leinster were left smarting when, armed with a 20-13 lead, they allowed Humphreys to put flanker Best over in the right corner after 69 minutes for his third try in two games.

Ulster were back in it with Humphreys’ conversion squaring things up at 20-all.

Yet Leinster, unbeaten at Donnybrook in the last 18 months, and with substitute Gordon D’Arcy on, powered back up the other end for Hickie to score his 19th league try and join Derrick Lee and Matthew Watkins at the top of the scoring charts.