Magners League champions Leinster suffered their third straight defeat in the competition, confirming their worst run of league form since the 2003/04 season, as goal-kicking hero Dan Parks booted Glasgow Warriors up to third place in the table.
Travelling north after the highs of last week’s Heineken Cup success over London Wasps, Leinster looked poised to get their Magners League title defence back on the right road – but Glasgow had other ideas.
The Warriors, itching for a win after three recent defeats, made a couple of alterations to the team that went down 22-16 to Toulouse last week.
Kelly Brown was brought into the back row, in place of Richie Vernon, while a shoulder injury forced hooker Dougie Hall to give up his place to Eric Milligan.
Leinster also had injuries to consider and with Brian O’Driscoll and Leo Cullen both ruled out, there were call-ups for Jonathan Sexton at out-half – with Felipe Contepomi moving to centre – and the giant Devin Toner at lock. John Fogarty also got the nod at hooker.
Glasgow got off to an encouraging start, with Leinster coughing up a second-minute penalty at the breakdown and Dan Parks converted the straight-on penalty in windy conditions.
Sean Lineen’s men showed more composure during the numerous bouts of kicking out of hand, as neither side looked hungry to press for a line break, preferring to probe the touch lines and force the opposition into an error.
Given the conditions, that was no surprise. Ball-handling was difficult and it soon became a battle between the two place-kickers, Parks and Contepomi.
The Argentinian notched a quick reply, to put Leinster level at 3-3, but the Scots almost responded with the game’s opening try.
Max Evans, the eventual man-of-the-match, linked with Lome Fa’atau down the right wing and cut through the Leinster defence for the score, only for it to be ruled out for a forward pass.
A lineout infringement from the visitors had Parks a chance to boot Glasgow ahead again and he obliged, perfectly drilling his kick low into the wind and bisecting the posts.
Leinster, gunning for a Scottish double after their recent win in Edinburgh, were rather listless in attack and struggled for possession – although they did some damage at scrum and lineout time with CJ Van Der Linde, Malcolm O’Kelly and Devin Toner each standing out.
Overall, they played in fits and starts though. Contepomi tried to spark them into life and he did up the tempo with a raid down the right.
He managed to evade two tackles but was hit hard by Dan Turner as he looked for support. The move was broken up and Glasgow soon regained control.
Parks blasted a 40-metre penalty through the uprights for 9-3 and the Scotland international then stretched the lead to nine points, before the break.
He landed his fourth successful penalty after Leinster number 8 Jamie Heaslip had been sin-binned. And rubbing salt into the champions’ wounds, Contepomi missed a chance to reply before the half-time whistle.
Glasgow were slower out of the blocks for the second half, with replacements Tim Barker and Moray settling in, and Contepomi redeemed himself as he cut the gap to 12-6.
Aided by the wind, Leinster were beginning to assert themselves and Contepomi punished another mistake with a fine penalty strike from near halfway.
But Glasgow’s defence was rock solid throughout and although let down by their ill-discipline at times, Lineen’s charges had more cohesion in their play, displayed more hunger and used the ball more intelligently.
Leinster’s error count let them down, with the usually reliable Luke Fitzgerald knocking on and slicing kicks. He was one of many players who struggled on the night.
Glasgow suffered a blow when centre Graeme Morrison went off injured, however Parks popped up with a relieving penalty as Leinster paid the price for a ruck offence.
Contepomi made the Scots sweat as he swung over a reply, 12 minutes from time, but Parks’ haul of five goals from six penalty attempts – he missed a late effort from the right touchline – was enough for Glasgow to hang on and move into the upper reaches of the league table.
Speaking after the game, Leinster coach Michael Cheika said: “From the team’s point of view it’s a very disappointing result. What happened last week (against Wasps) is irrelevant and all we remember now is tonight’s game.
“The weather was bad for both sides, so there are no excuses there. We didn’t put ourselves in the right position to win the match.”
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