BRITISH AND IRISH CUP/Leinster 6 Newport 10:NEWPORT MOVED to the top of Pool A in the British and Irish Cup by deservedly beating a very disappointing Leinster at Donnybrook last night.

Outhalf Chris Wannell kicked the visitors into the lead in the 19th minute when tackler Niall Morris refused to release fullback Gareth Wyatt on the floor for the only score of the half.

Leinster replacement Paul O’Donohoe made an immediate impact with his improved pass and hard running and Fergus McFadden levelled it up when hooker Duane Goodfield blatantly obstructed O’Donohoe. Immediately, lock Devin Toner was binned for an off-the-ball incident and a slick movement ended with Newport wing Matthew Pewtner striking gold for Wannell to convert from wide on the right in the 50th minute. McFadden narrowed the gap with a penalty for a scrum infringement in the 75th minute. A wayward Wannell penalty in the 77th minute failed to extend Newport’s advantage, but they held on for the win, thus ensuring a tense finale in the final round of pool games. Leinster travel to Scotland to face Gael Force in the province’s final Pool A encounter.

LEINSTER: N Morris; M Keating, E O’Malley, F McFadden, Simon Keogh; I Madigan, C Keane; R McCormack , R Strauss, M Ross, T Hogan, D Toner, E Sheriff, P Ryan. Stephen Keogh (capt). Replacements: J Murphy for Keogh (17), P O’Donohoe for Keane (h-t), S Wright for R McCormack (51), S Monahan for Morris (68), J Harris-Wright for Strauss (70), K Tonetti for Keating (78) mins),

NEWPORT: G Wyatt; M Poole, A Hughes, P Leach, M Pewtner; C Wannell, A Quick; D Pattison, D Goodfield, G Robinson, D Rosser, A Brown, S Waldron,, C Hill, A Coombs (capt). Replacements: L Evans for Waldron (51), A Brown for Goodfield (57),

Referee: K Lewis, England.