Connacht ... 3 Leinster ... 25: Floodlight failure struck Ericsson Park last night. The on again/off again interprovincial between Connacht and Leinster, finally designated a friendly yesterday morning, was called to an abrupt halt with seven minutes remaining. However with Leinster in charge, leading 25-3, referee John Sheehan sensibly blew the final whistle on a game which provided both provinces with a competitive work-out before their European campaigns continue next week.
Both coaches will, however, be a little concerned over injuries last night. Girvan Dempsey's departure after 47 minutes following a tackle injury to his hip has yet to be fully assessed, but coach Matt Williams says it could be enough to keep him out of the Swansea game. Connacht's Steph Nel has even bigger problems. Already missing five key players through injury, Connacht flanker Michael Swift was stretchered off, adding to Nel's woes before next Saturday's fixture with Pontypridd at the same venue.
Although lacking the bite of a full interprovincial encounter, Williams was content enough with a Leinster display in which Brian O'Driscoll and Girvan Dempsey scored two well-worked tries.
Injuries to Eric Elwood, Marnus Uijs, Johnny O'Sullivan, Darren Yapp, and Damien Browne may have removed some punch from the Connacht attack, but it did not alter their well-organised defence. And there will be somesatisfaction in conceding only three tries against a Leinster side missing only Denis Hickie.
Leinster scored the only try of the first half in their second foray into the Connacht half. Rather fortuitous in its beginnings when referee Sheehan missed a midfield knock-on, it was well executed in its finish with Horgan and O'Driscoll making the yards before Dempsey finished off in the right corner.
O'Meara added a 24th minute penalty to extend the lead to 10-3 after Connacht outhalf Mark McHugh notched one of four efforts, two of which hit off the woodwork to deny Connacht a closer half-time margin.
Although Connacht enjoyed their fair percentage of first phase ball, it was Leinster who dictated play for much of the second half after O'Driscoll waltzed in on 43 minutes. Victor Costello, with the pack behind him, had sucked in the Connacht men before Warner, Horgan, and Gleeson sent O'Driscoll through. O'Meara added the conversion and a 50th minute penalty to stretch the lead to 20-3. When replacement Aiden McCullen went in after 70 minutes, the 1,000 spectators at Ericsson Park probably appreciated the lighting failure to examine Athlone's new club-house.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 14mins: Dempsey try, O'Meara conversion, 0-7; 19 mins: McHugh penalty, 3-7; 24 mins: O'Meara penalty, 3-10. Half time, 3-10. 43 mins: O'Driscoll try, O'Meara conversion, 3-17; 50 mins: O'Meara penalty, 3-20; 70 mins: McCullen try, 3-25. Full time, 3-25
CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Robinson, D O'Sullivan, S Moore (capt), W Munn; M McHugh, M Walls; D McFarland, H Bourke, P Bracken; A Maher, R Frost; M Swift, J O'Connor, E Peters. Replacements: Muldoon for Swift (54 mins), McCormack for Bracken (57 mins), McPhail for Moore (59 mins), Rigney for Peters (64 mins), Norton for Robinson (66 mins), Keane for Walls (66 mins).
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, D Quinlan, G D'Arcy; C Warner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Coyle, L Cullen, M O'Kelly, E Miller, K Gleeson, V Costello. Replacements: McKenna for Dempsey (47 mins), McCullen for Gleeson, Magro for Horgan (54 mins), Dillon for Costello (59 mins), Gissing for Cullen, O'Riordan for O'Meara, G Hickie for Byrne (all 66 mins) , Willis for D'Arcy, Leigh for O'Driscoll (71 mins).
Referee: J Sheehan (Munster).
