URC result: Leinster break Lions’ hearts in 10-try thriller

The Lions‘ hearts were broken by Leinster in a thrilling United Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park on Saturday when the Irish giants pipped Ivan van Rooyen’s team 39-36.

The Lions, who picked up two bonus points, still have a slim chance of making the playoffs, but will have to win their final league game against Zebre next week and hope some other results go their way. They are now 10th in the standings.

Leinster remain top of the log and unbeaten in 17 URC matches this season.

In an edge-of-the-seat encounter, rookie Leinster No 10 Sam Prendergast slotted an 80th minute penalty to get his side across the line.

The Lions, who led 36-24 with 11 minutes remaining, conceded two late tries, a conversion and penalty to lose the match.

And, Leinster had two men in the sin bin during the second half.

First half

The Lions were somewhat surprise leaders at the break because for the majority of the first half they lived on scraps and were on the back foot, defending for their lives at times.

And that was from the word go, because the visitors scored their first try as early as the second minute when prop Vakhtang Abdaladze beat several defenders to score a wonderful try.

But just when it seemed as if Leinster were getting on top, the Lions hit back through a try of their own, wing Edwill van der Merwe beating three tacklers to score. And then, against the run of play, flyhalf Gianni Lombard also scored midway through the half after kicking the ball ahead to collect and go over.

At that stage the Lions led 12-7, but Leinster were soon back in the lead when centre Liam Turner ran hard and straight and beat the Lions defence to help get his side into a 14-12 lead. The Lions’ defence was all at sea and they were on the back foot.

But, from nowhere nearly, Marius Louw went over after some nifty offloading by Van der Merwe and Sanele Nohamba, and he was followed shortly thereafter by Francke Horn, who beat several defenders out wide, to score his team’s fourth try. At the break, the Lions led 26-14.

Second half

Leinster scored first after the resumption, Michael Milne going over to close the gap, but a Nohamba penalty got the Lions into a 29-21 lead. The Lions then awarded a penalty try to go 36-21 up midway through the second half and Leinster were twice punished with men sent to the bin.

But a Prendergast penalty and tries by Rob Russell and Chris Cosgrove, and the late penalty, got Leinster home.