Second-half fightback comes up short in Dublin

• 4 Nov 2023
• News

Despite a battling second-half performance, Edinburgh fell short in Dublin this afternoon, with Leinster claiming a 36-27 victory at RDS Arena.

Edinburgh threatened to grab two losing bonus-points with a late flurry of tries – however those efforts came up short as the capital side suffered their first defeat of the new campaign.

Edinburgh managed scores through three replacements – James Lang, Connor Boyle and Boan Venter – however those tries weren’t enough to inspire a heroic comeback with poor first-half discipline at the root of the capital club’s problems.

With Glen Young yellow carded on 30 minutes, Leinster were able to capitalise with an outbreak of simple scores scored from just a metres out.

With Lee Barron, Max Deegan and Ciaran Frawley all running in scores for the hosts, Edinburgh trailed 21-6 at the break. A pair of Ben Healy penalties – who remained perfect from the tee – kept the capital side on the scoreboard.

Edinburgh came out battling in the second-half and got back on the scoresheet with a coast-to-coast try.

With Blair Kinghorn breaking from inside his 22m, the full-back found supporting scrum-half Charlie Shiel.

From Shiel to the trailing replacement Lang, Edinburgh were back in it (28-13).

Leinster had proved too strong inside Edinburgh’s red zone all afternoon however and they soon extended their lead with hooker James Culhane the try-scorer after another potent lineout drive (33-13).

Edinburgh weren’t done however and with Connor Boyle adding the finish touches to a strong lineout drive, it was a 13-point game (33-20).

Edinburgh had further hope when Venter popped up with another close-rage score only moment later – however a penalty from Leinster’s Sam Prendergast all but closed the door on the capital outfit’s chances of a losing BP.

Edinburgh now turn their attention to a run of home fixtures in November with Connacht, Vodacom Bulls and Benetton Rugby all set to visit the Scottish capital in the coming weeks.