Below-par Leinster get job done
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:07
Despite a disappointing second half, Leinster got their 2008/2009 Heineken Cup campaign off to the right kind of start with a bonus point win over fellow Magners League team Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon.
Four first half tries were ultimately enough for Leinster to secure their 27-16 win at Murrayfield but, with a yellow card for Felipe Contepomi in the 50th minute handing the Gunners a try, they would definitely have had some nerves heading into the final 20minutes of the game.
The home side started the better of the two sides, enjoying the Lions share of possession but were unable to make the most of their opportunities. With fifteen minutes gone all they had to show for their efforts was a single Phil Godman penalty.
Wallaby flank Rocky Elsom then made the home side pay with his try after 18 minutes. Argentinean Contepomi added the extra two points with his first effort of the night and Leinster had the lead.
Current Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll then extended his sides lead with his try in the 24th minute.
The visiting side then took control and, with two more tries from Contepomi and Shane Horgan they looked set to take a comfortable lead into the break.
Chris Paterson added a penalty kick on the stroke of halftime for the Scottish team but it had definitely been Leinsters half.
Ten minutes into the second forty minutes and Edinburgh finally got their first try. An offense from Contepomi not only earned him a spell on the sidelines but also saw referee David Pearson award a penalty try.
Another penalty in the 67th minute from Paterson temporarily made it an eight point game but Contempomi’s effort, just a couple minutes later, seemed to secure the win for captain Leo Cullen and his team.
While they showed glimpses of their best in the first half it was still a largely disappointing showing from last years Magner League winners. That said, with the points in the bag, Leinsters' latest challenge, in search of their first Heineken Cup win, is underway with the right result.
Scorers:
Edinburgh:
Tries: Penalty try
Con: Paterson
Pens: Paterson 3
Leinster:
Tries: Elsom, O’Driscoll, Contepomi, Horgan
Con: Contepomi 2
Pens: Contepomi
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Mark Robertson, 13 Hugo Southwell, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Simon Webster, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair (captain), 8 Allister Hogg, 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Scott Newlands, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Matt Mustchin, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Gavin Kerr, 18 Ben Gissing, 19 Craig Hamilton,
20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 David Blair, 22 John Houston.
Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Luke Fitzgerald, 12 Brian O'Driscoll, 11 Rob Kearney, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Chris Whitaker, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (captain), 3 CJ Van Der Linde, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Stan Wright.
Replacements: 16 John Fogarty, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Stephen Keogh, 20 Chris Keane, 21 Johnny Sexton, 22 Gary Brown.
