BENNETT BREAKS LEINSTER HEARTS
MARK BENNETT scored a lastminute try to give Edinburgh a dramatic win over Leinster at Myreside. With time running out, it looked as though the hosts’ wastefulness with the boot would cost them a victory despite running in four tries.
However, Bennett was on hand to collect a Jaco van der Walt kick and after a painful wait for confirmation, the try was given to the delight of the crowd.
There was barely time to restart the game before the referee blew the whistle to give Edinburgh — who welcomed back John Hardie from a three-month ban — an entertaining win in the Guinness PRO14.
Leinster got off to a flying start, taking a seven-point lead, but the hosts were handed a way back into the game when Ross Byrne, after kicking the conversion from Max Deegan’s try, telegraphed a chip over the defensive line and was charged down by Luke Crosbie, who picked up nicely before showing a good turn of pace to touch down under the posts.
Out of nowhere, they were ahead as Bennett did well to rip the ball in the tackle, and Nathan Fowles, on his return from the Scotland squad, picked up and wriggled out of a couple of tackles before racing into the corner to give Edinburgh a somewhat fortunate lead.
Leinster hit back, eventually finding an overlap on the blindside to record a fourth try in the opening half hour of a hectic match and put them 14-12 up.
Barry Daly added another try from out wide but Edinburgh responded strongly on the verge of half-time with a strong maul and new Scotland cap Murray McCallum barged over to leave Leinster narrowly ahead, 19-17.
The second half took a while to get going, but the hosts were back ahead when Sam Hidalgo-Clyne kicked cutely for Van der Merwe, and the ball bounced nicely into the winger’s arms for a score.
The lead did not last long, Daly scored again in the corner, but with seconds to go, Van der Walt chipped over the top and Glenn Bryce’s attempted catch dropped to Bennett who charged over. EDINBURGH: Fife, Graham (G Bryce 67), Bennett, Dean (Rasolea 69), Van Der Merwe, Van Der Walt, Fowles (Hidalgo-Clyne 57), Lay, Fenton (Cochrane 46), McCallum (Shields 67), McKenzie, Carmichael, Crosbie, Ritchie (Bradbury 70), Mata. Scorers – Tries: Crosbie, Fowles, McCallum, Van Der Merwe, Bennett. Cons: Van Der Walt, Hidalgo-Clyne. LEINSTER: D Kearney (A Byrne 68), McFadden, O’Loughlin, Reid, B Daly, R Byrne, Gibson-Park (L McGrath 60), Dooley (E Byrne 47), Strauss (B Byrne 47), Bent, Molony, Fardy, J Murphy (M Kearney 72), Connors, Deegan. Scorers — Tries: Deegan, Fardy, B Daly 2. Cons: R. Byrne 2. Referee: P Williams (NZ).