Ireland
Leinster Narrowly Succumb To Toulon
Heartbreaker!
By Gary Watton
April 20 2015
Not for the first time in his illustrious career, the Welsh maestro Leigh Halfpenny broke Irish hearts with a series of successful kicks at goal. His trail of destruction consisted of six penalties and an accurate conversion of Bryan Habana's crucial try. As a consequence, the full back helped his team to oust Leinster in extra time and proceed to another all-French final against the formidable Clermont Auvergne.
The Irish club, in spite of their impressive European CV were cast as underdogs, but they rose to the occasion, even leading nine points to six at the interval, and will rue a missed conversion kick of Sean O'Brien's try. However, Ian Madigan did convert no fewer than five penalties himself.
In what are almost carbon copy circumstances to Munster twelve months ago, Leinster have basically placed all their eggs in the one basket and look some way short of progressing to the last four of the PRO12. They will have to win all of their remaining matches and hope that other results go in their favour. Otherwise the men from the east coast could easily end the season trophy-less, which is in itself a rare phenomenon.
FINAL SCORE:
Toulon 25 LEINSTER 20
Toulon points: Habana [TRY], Halfpenny (6 penalties and 1 conversion)
LEINSTER points: O'Brien [TRY], Madigan (5 penalties)
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