LEINSTER maintained their winning start to the URC.
But they dropped a point for the first time this season against a Lions side who battled bravely at the Aviva Stadium.
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James Lowe of Leinster fails to ground the ball under pressure from Henco van Wyk of Emirates Lions
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Thwe win over the Lions maintained Leinster’s unbeaten start to the season in the URC
The South Africans never looked like pulling off a shock win against the leaders but they made sure Leo Cullen’s men had to dig deep to make it six wins on the spin heading into the November break.
Speaking after the win Leinster skipper Caelan Doris said: “It has been a pretty good block for us,”
“We are 29 out of the possible 30 points but performance wise we were probably a little bit sloppy and our ill-discipline certainly gave them access.
“But at the same time it was a top of the table clash and we have seen what they are capable of.”
Leinster, who have used 47 players in this opening block of six games this season with 19 different try scorers, led 10-6 at the break after finally managing to get in for a try nine minutes from the interval.
Their early lead from a Sam Prendergast penalty was wiped out by the Lions who built good phaseS.
They were good value for their 6-3 lead after 17 minutes thanks to a couple of good penalties from out-half Kade Wolhuter.
But Leinster struck after 31 minutes with a penalty to the left corner being followed by drives for the line from Doris and Michael Milne.
That was before Josh van der Flier spotted a gap and got over. Prendergast converted to lead by four at the break.
Leinster continued on top after the restart but found it difficult to break down a resolute Lions defence and the game hung in the balance towards the end of the third quarter.
I won it all with Ireland and was named player of the year and now I work for a packaging company on six-figure salary
Then Leinster opted for a tapped penalty inside the 22 and they got the drive right with Doris getting through to score, with Prendergast’s conversion pushing the lead out to 17-6.
They finished on the front foot but for the first time this season failed to get a try bonus point.
However, they got a third try in the final play when replacement hooker Steve Smyth was denied his first Leinster try illegally and a penalty try was awarded by referee Craig Evans.
Leinster 24
Lions 6
Scorers: Leinster: Tries: J van der Flier, C Doris, penalty try. Cons: S Prendergast (2). Pen: Prendergast .
Lions: Pens: Wolhuter (2).
Leinster: H Keenan; A Osborne; H Cooney, R Henshaw (C Tector 79), J Lowe; S Prendergast (R Byrne 64), L McGrath (C Foley64); M Milne (A Porter 45), G McCarthy (S Smyth 79), R Slimani (T Clarkson 45); RG Snyman, R Baird (B Deeny, 67); M Deegan (J Culhane 69), J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).
Lions: Q Horn (E Cronje 11); R Kriel, H van Wyk, R Jonker (M Louw 60), E van der Merwe; K Wolhuter (S Nohamba 67), M van den Berg; J Schoeman (H Pohlmann 67), PJ Botha (F Marais 60), A Ntlabakanye (RF Schoeman 67); R Schoeman (R Delport 60), R Nothnagel; JC Pretorius (R du Plessis 69), J Cairns, F Horn (capt)
Referee: C Evans (Wales)
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