Losing bonus secures Leinster’s play-off spot

By KEVIN FALLON

Stormers …………….20 Leinster ………………13

LEINSTER fell to their second defeat in a row in South Africa but a losing bonus point was enough for an understrength side to secure top spot in the inaugural URC campaign.

That means they will have home advantage for the remainder of the competition, including the final if they get there.

Now the attention will shift immediately to next weekend's Champions Cup showdown with Leicester Tigers.

Most of the frontliners were kept in Dublin over the past two weeks so a second defeat in South Africa was not unexpected against a Stormers side in contention for a home quarter-final spot.

“A lot of young players have got game-time here over these two matches and they can learn a lot from that,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.

Manie Libbok drew first blood for the Stormers in Cape Town with a 15th minute penalty, but the champions hit the front when Ciaran Frawley landed a couple of penalties to lead 6-3 at the break.

Leinster hooker John McKee was binned for killing the ball in a maul three minutes after the restart and that paved the way for Stormers to strike for the first try of the game when full-back Warrick Gelant got in at the right corner.

They pushed on to build on that 8-6 lead and Gelant was instrumental in creating the opportunity for wing Seabelo Senalta to score after 54 minutes.

The champions, with flanker Alex Soroka superb, hit back and went to the corner with a penalty and after Josh Murphy won the lineout, Leinster mauled their way over with Ed Byrne getting the touchdown. Harry Byrne landed the difficult conversion to tie the sides at 13-13 after 62 minutes.

The match was decided three minutes later when Leinster lost a lineout deep inside their 22 and Stormers drove over and were awarded a penalty try.

Leinster scrum-half Cormac Foley was sinbinned but with a vital point theirs for the taking, they saw out the remaining minutes without falling further behind.