Blues 19-30 Leinster CARDIFF Blues suffered a shock defeat to end their 100 per cent Magners League record. From the moment Jonathan Sexton gave Leinster a 10th-minute lead with a penalty from halfway, Dai Young s side were never in front, but they were the architects of their own downfall. Poor handling in the opposition 22 not only prevented them from scoring, but allowed the Irish side to break away for two tries in five second-half minutes and kill the game.
Tom James, in his first start of the campaign, was unlucky to stray into touch on his way to the line a minute later, but uncertainty in the Blues defence gifted Leinster a lineout five yards from the home line. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT The Irishmen spread the ball across the line, with Christian Warner feeding wing Luke Fitzgerald for a try in the corner, Sexton s conversion attempt striking the outside of the post. Nicky Robinson reduced the arrears to 8-3 on the 25-minute mark, and the Blues exploded into life two minutes later when Ben Blair surged 50 yards upfield.
The full-back unselfishly off-loaded to Mark Lewis, and the flanker crashed over in the corner to level the scores. Another precision penalty from distance from Sexton edged Leinster 11-8 ahead, and despite Blues pressure, that s the way it stayed until the break. On the stroke of half-time, Robinson had missed a kickable penalty from the right touch-line after Jamie Roberts was unfairly tackled, the number 10 pulling his kick well wide.
Leinster began the second half with their tails up and made their dominance pay despite being a man down. Fergus Mcfadden was sin-binned for a late tackle on the impressive Robinson, but the Irish side made light of their disadvantage with a breakaway try. The Blues looked all set to take the lead before Blair s loose pass was intercepted by his opposite number Rob Kearney.
The full-back made good ground before unloading to Fitzgerald for his second try. Two Robinson penalties made it 18-14, before Leinster made the Blues pay for their lack of incisiveness in the opposing 22. Sexton made the most of hesitancy in the home defence before converting himself, and within minutes a shell-shocked home side were 30-14 behind when Heaslip dived over.
The last 20 minutes belonged to the Blues in terms of possession. James grabbed a consolation in the last minute, but it was Leinster who took the spoils with their first win on Welsh soil since 2004. BLUES: Ben Blair; Jamie Roberts, Tal Selley, Dafydd Hewitt, Tom James; Nicky Robinson (Dai Flanagan 70), Jason Spice (Richie Rees 72); John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Gary Powell, Robert Sidoli (Scott Morgan 65), Paul Tito, Mark Lewis (Bradley Davies 65), Robin Sowden-Taylor, Xavier Rush (capt) Tries: Lewis, James Pens: Robinson (3) LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Gary Brown, Fergus McFadden, Christian Warner, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Chris Whitaker; Stan Wright, Bernard Jackman (Brian Blaney 75), Stephen Knoop, Trevor Hogan, Leo Cullen (capt), Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip Tries: Fitzgerald (2), Heaslip, Sexton Cons: Sexton (2) Pens: Sexton (2).
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