| Leinster (5) 24 |
| Try: Penny, McGrath, Baird, Byrne Cons: O’Brien, Hawkshaw |
| Connacht (25) 35 |
| Tries: Carty 2, Wootton, Daly Pens: Carty 3 Cons: Carty 3 |
Leinster went down to a first Pro14 defeat in 27 games as Irish rivals Connacht stormed to a shock 35-24 victory at the RDS.
Tries from Jack Carty (2) and Alex Wooton helped Connacht to a deserved 25-5 lead at half-time with Scott Penny touching down for Leinster.
Luke McGrath and Ryan Baird went in for the hosts before Tom Daly’s converted try took Connacht move 35-17 in front.
Ed Byrne’s try earned Leinster a bonus point as their long unbeaten run ended.
Leinster had not tasted defeat in the Pro14 since April 2019 and the result leaves Ulster, who have won all 10 of their games this season, in charge of Conference A.
The top-two meet next Friday in Dublin and Leinster could be without Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, who failed a HIA after taking a knock in the first half.
Visitors take early control
Both sides were hit with Covid-19 cases before the game – Connacht said on Friday that a “number of players” had tested positive following two from Leinster earlier in the week.
However, the game was allowed to proceed and Connacht quickly seized the initiative, with the first try coming after 11 minutes when Carty ran in after intercepting Ross Molony’s pass.
The fly-half added the extras but missed a penalty and then a conversion after driving over for his second try in the 22nd minute.
Leinster hit back three minutes later with Penny sprinting to the try line having been set up by Luke McGrath, who missed the conversion.
Carty split the posts with a penalty and was on target with a conversion after Wootton went in at the corner on the stroke of half-time.
Leinster improved on the restart. McGrath darted in near the posts for a converted try and, when Baird went over following good work from Sean Cronin, it left 11 points between the sides.
A third Leinster try, with David Hawkshaw touching down, was ruled out by the TMO for obstruction on Sammy Arnold.
Connacht sealed the bonus point as Daly held off tackles to get in for a try converted by Carty, and the victory was already assured when Byrne pushed over a try in the final seconds, with Hawkshaw making the conversion.
Leinster: O’Reilly; Smith, O’Brien, O’Loughlin, Kearney; Sexton, McGrath (capt); Dooley, Tracy, Bent, Molony, Toner, Baird, Penny, Leavy.
Replacements: Cronin, Byrne, Clarkson, Murphy, Conan, O’Sullivan, Turner, Connors.
Connacht: Porch; Sullivan, Arnold, Daly, Wootton; Carty, Blade; Buckley, Delahunt, Robertson-McCoy, Thornbury, Roux (capt), Masterson, Oliver, Masterson,
Replacements: Murphy, Burke, Kenny, Dillane, Prendergast, Marmion, Kilgallen, O’Donnell.
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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