European Champions Cup: Leinster inflict first Pool 2 defeat on Harlequins
Last Updated: 13/12/14 10:30pm
Leinster ensured Harlequins still have work to do to qualify for the last eight of the European Rugby Champions Cup with a tense 14-13 win at the Aviva Stadium.
The Irish province led 11-0 at half-time after much a dour start to the match, but they needed an Ian Madigan penalty eight minutes from time to secure victory and end Harlequins' 100 per cent record in Pool 2.
Madigan eventually opened the scoring with the game's first successful kick after 25 minutes - he had missed an early penalty as had Quins fly-half Tim Swiel.
Boosted by that score, Leinster pressed forward and good work from the base of the scrum by Jamie Heaslip allowed Isaac Boss enough room out wide to grab the game's first try.
Madigan missed the tough conversion but, after Swiel missed another penalty, he did extend Leinster's lead to 11 with a second kick.
Harlequins thought they had a try in the early seconds of the second period but, to the clear disappointment of coach Conor O'Shea, Mike Brown's score was chalked off for a knock-on.
Swiel eventually succeeded in putting three points on the board for Quins and Brown would not be denied his try on 57 minutes when he got on the end of an overlap to score out wide.
The conversion from Swiel was good and when the former Sharks No 10 connected with a second penalty Quins had turned the match on its head.
Leinster were stung into life and made the most of a couple of breaks from deep when Madigan was given the chance to kick his third penalty after a Quins transgression.
Quins ended the game playing with 14 men after lock Charlie Matthews was shown a game-ending yellow card at the end of a lengthy TMO review into a mass brawl.
They were handed one final chance to break after a poor Leinster lineout but a knock-on brought an end to their hopes of a late rally and they were forced to settle for a losing bonus point.
The result leaves Leinster and Harlequins locked together on 13 points at the top of Pool 2 but Wasps could close within a point if they beat Castres and claim a bonus point in their final match at Adams Park on Sunday.
