Leinster 12-10 Cornish Pirates

Leinster clinched their second successive victory in the inaugural British & Irish Cup with a 12-10 win over the Cornish Pirates in Donnybrook on Friday evening.

Shaun Berne continued his excellent run of form with 12 points as Leinster battled back from a deficit to seal the win with a late effort.

A good Berne break in the eighth minute inside the Pirates half didn't bear fruit as Brendan Macken took his eye off the ball as a clear run beckoned, but it prompted the home side into life after a solid start from the visitors where they impressed but failed to make their possession count.

The Pirates came close to scoring the game's opening try when winger Nick Jackson broke through the Leinster midfield, but some excellent defence from David Kearney denied what looked to be a certain try.

A break from centre Mark Ireland led to a penalty for the visitors 15 metres from the posts and Rob Cook had no difficulties slotting the effort home to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead after 18 minutes.

Leinster's reply was almost immediate but Berne's penalty two minutes later fell inches short of the posts. Richardt Strauss, making his first start in Leinster colours, carried the ball with great fervour and it was a break from the South African hooker in the 22nd minute that nearly led to the home side's first points, but the kick again fell wide from Berne.

Berne made amends with a penalty on 27 minutes, which levelled the scores 3-3. The remainder of the half was keenly contested with a Devin Toner steal from a lineout and an all-round industrious Kevin McLaughlin performance being the highlights for the home side.

Leinster began the second half strongly and Berne doubled his personal tally with his second penalty in the 45th minute to give his side the lead. A Cook penalty a minute later fell wide into the Bective end of the ground and a further Berne effort in the 52nd minute increased Leinster's lead to six points.

With McLaughlin and Stephen Keogh making inroads and Girvan Dempsey consistently proving to be a real attacking thorn, Leinster were on the ascendancy, but a ten-minute spell of pressure by the visitors led to a try from close in by scrum-half Gavin Cattle, which Cook converted, to help the Pirates regain the lead, 10-8.

Substitute Niall Morris and winger Michael Keating almost came close in the closing quarter but it was Berne again, adding his fourth successive penalty with eight minutes remaining, which proved to be the deciding kick as Leinster enjoyed their second win in the competition.

LEINSTER SCORERS: Shaun Berne (4 penalties)

CORNISH PIRATES SCORERS: Gavin Cattle (1 try), Rob Cook (1 penalty, 1 conversion)

LEINSTER: 15: Girvan Dempsey, 14: Michael Keating, 13: Brendan Macken (Eoin O'Malley, 76), 12: Shaun Berne, 11: David Kearney (Niall Morris, 69), 10: Ian McKinley, 9: Paul O'Donohoe CAPTAIN (Simon Keogh, 47); 1: Ronan McCormack, 2: Richardt Strauss (Jason Harris-Wright, 27), 3: Jack McGrath (Stewart Maguire, 72), 4: Trevor Hogan, 5: Devin Toner, 6: Kevin McLaughlin, 7: Paul Ryan (Dominic Ryan, 63), 8: Stephen Keogh.

Replacement not used: Mark Flanagan.

CORNISH PIRATES: 15: Rob Cook, 14: Aisea Havili, 13: Mark Ireland, 12: Steve Winn (Richard Bright, ht), 11: Nick Jackson, 10: Jonny Bentley (Rhys Jones, 62), 9: Gavin Cattle CAPTAIN (James Doherty, 74); 1: Ryan Storer, 2: Dave Ward, 3: Carl Rimmer, 4: Shaun Pammenter, 5: Luke Collins (Rob Labuschagne, 48), 6: Matt Evans (Same Betty, 56), 7: Tyrone Holmes, 8: Laurie McGolone (Rob Elloway, 65).

Replacement not used: Paul Andrew.

REFEREE: David Bodilly (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: John Lacey (IRFU), Dave O'Brien (IRFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Wayne Sheridan (ARLB), 5th OFFICIAL: Glenn Sheridan (ARLB).