Lions held off Leinster to win the United Rugby Championship fixture 27:26 on Saturday evening. The result leaves the visitors still top of the table after a hard-fought contest at home.
Leinster had not lost in 14 of their 16 league games before this match. They came into the game with momentum, having beaten Stormers 20:11 and Bulls 36:7 in their two most recent outings. The hosts came out fighting, refusing to let the visitors dictate the tempo from the opening whistle.
The scoreline tells only part of the story. A one-point margin suggests chances went begging for both sides, with neither able to pull away when it mattered. Leinster's recent form had looked dominant, but against the home side they found the opposition kept their heads under pressure.
Leinster remain in first place with 71 points from 16 games. Their record stands at 14 wins and two defeats, a run that has kept them at the summit. The narrow loss does little to dent their position, though it may serve as a wake-up call.
For the hosts, the result extends a streak of mixed fortunes. They had drawn with Sharks 22:22 and lost to Griquas 12:52 in their last two outings before this victory. The win puts them firmly in contention for a top-four spot and ends a run of inconsistent performances.
