RUGBY UNION: Kick in teeth for Leinster

LEINSTER'S Heineken Cup hopes were hanging by a thread after they were pipped by a penalty from Bourgoin's Alexandre Peclier in injury time.

It handed the Irish province their second defeat in Europe this season and halted a superb fightback.

Leinster will now have muster a bonus-point win against Bath at the Rec next month to stand any chance of making the quarter- finals.

They were trailing 27-13 six minutes into the second half but two touchdowns in three minutes by captain Felipe Contepomi and wing Robert Kearney turned a bruising clash.

A Contepomi penalty pushed Leinster 28-27 in front but, frustratingly, they could not hold on.

Peclier answered the French side's call, landing a kick from 27 metres.

Leinster, hunting for their third straight Pool Four win, went behind when centre David Janin collected his own kick ahead to score.

Contepomi landed a penalty for offside but fly-half Benjamin Boyet restored Bourgoin's advantage with a drop goal befiore Contepomi and Peclier were sin-binned for fighting.

Gordon D'Arcy scored Leinster's first try when he side-stepped Mickael Forest and beat the cover to the line.

A Contepomi penalty put the visitors 13-10 up but prop Pascal Peyron barged over for Bourgoin's second try.

Peclier converted and tagged on a penalty early in the second half after flanker Eric Miller was sin-binned for a deliberate knock- on.

The hosts then made full use of a stray pass from Contepomi as David Venditti powered over.

Contepomi went from villain to hero when he slid out of a tackle by Wessel Jooste to touch down.

The Argentine missed the touchline conversion but it was his long pass that put teenager Kearney in for his third try in four European outings.

Contepomi added the conversion then landed a 60th-minute penalty to make it 28-27 but Peclier punished Leinster with his late kick.

BOURGOIN. Tries: Janin, Peyron, Venditti. Cons: Peclier 3. Pens: Peclier 2. DGs: Boyet.

LEINSTER. Tries: D'Arcy, Contepomi, Kearney. Cons: Kearney, Contepomi. Pens: Contepomi 3.

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