HQ heartbreak for London Irish

An unbelievably dramatic finish to Saturday’s Round Six, Pool Six, clash between Leinster and London Irish saw the two teams draw, 11-all, and the Exiles knocked out of the 2009/10 Heineken Cup.

Playing in front of over 37 000 fans at Twickenham, Leinster dominated much of the match and will no doubt be very disappointed not to have gone on to win it in the end.

The result sees Leinster top the group, and assured of a home semifinal, but knocked London Irish right out of Europe for the season.

Australian No.10 Chris Malone was both the hero and the villain for the home side. Missing three vital kicks at goal on the one hand, and scoring a game-changing try on the other – Malone was just metres away from rescuing a win for London Irish with the last action of the match.

Expected to be an exciting encounter, the match lived up to its billing. Both teams, packed full of attacking power, were always looking to counter attack.

The ‘home’ side started well and, with just a couple of minutes gone, almost scored the first try of the match. Attacking off a scrum 10m from the Leinster line Malone snuck through a little grubber kick.

Only some good work, and nice footwork, from Rob Kearney saved the home sides but the momentum was certainly with Toby Booth’s men.

An early scrum penalty then went the way of Leinster, giving Jonathan Sexton an early shot at goal. Good strike from the Ireland No.10, 3-0 lead for Leinster.

Malone had the chance to level the scores 13 minutes but his effort was well wide.

Back in the side, England wing Topsy Ojo was looking very dangerous with the ball in hand. Running off Malone, as well as counter-attacking from the back, the flyer was impressing.

While Irish continued to dominate possession Leinster’s defence was holding strong. Well organised, the Leinster line never really looked like conceding in the opening 30 minutes. Slowly then, with some good work from their backline, the defending champions started to look threatening.

Sexton, with an Irish defensive line rushing up, was carrying very well while Isa Nacewa was joining the line well off the left wing.

Five minutes from half time London Irish finally got back on level terms thanks to Malone’s first successful penalty.

Suddenly then Gordon D’Arcy dived over the London Irish tryline. Unfortunately for the Ireland No.12 though the try was not given. Nigel Owens ruled that the final pass from Nacewa to D’Arcy had gone forward but the signs were ominous for the Exiles. D’Arcy himself was quickly becoming a central figure in the game – making breaks and taking the fight to the home side.

Leinster then made a mess of the Exiles five metre scrum. Jamie Heaslip picked up the loose ball and charged for the line. Held up, the recycled ball was quickly shifted to the blind for an unmarked Nacewa to score.

The Magners League side started the second half very well as well, with D’Arcy again the major threat in their line.

Playing intelligent rugby, with Brian O’Driscoll a key decision maker, last years competition winners were pegging the London side down inside their own territory.

With his team ahead Cian Healy responded badly to Bob Casey’s treatment of Eion Reddan, rushing in to confront the Exiles captain. The resulting scuffle was cleared up by the officials but it was Healy who had to take the blame – receiving a yellow card and ten minutes in the bin for his action.

Almost immediately the Irish were handed another scoring chance. Malone though could not make it count.

A clever kick from Malone, from inside his 22, landed safely in the hands of Ojo wide on the right. Only a fantastic tackle from Leinster No.8 Heaslip stopped the flyer but it was a great attack for London Irish.

Having failed to make their chance count, the Exiles were quickly back on the back foot thanks to some good kicking from Ireland fullback Kearney.

Dramatically then, with 15 minutes left in the game, Malone scored a great try for London Irish. Seilala Mapusua started the move with a great charge up the midfield. Chris Hala’Ufia carried the ball to within 10m of the Leinster line before, with the ball spread wide, Malone darted for the score. TMO Derek Bevan had a look at the reply but there was little doubt that it was a good try.

Malone, having got his team level, then failed with the conversion.

Time running out, needing to score, the pressure was now all coming from London Irish. Camping down in Leinster territory, Malone turned down the option of going for a drop goal and went searching for a try. It didn’t work out but the momentum was certainly still with Casey’s men.

Three minutes from time then Malone got his chance to make amends for his missed efforts. 35m out, the Australian lineup up a crucial penalty goal. Showing good composure the former Harlequins playmaker put London Irish ahead, 11-8.

The drama wasn’t over yet though. Immediately on the attack, Leinster levelled the scores with a long-range Jonny Sexton drop-goal.

An unbelievable finish to the match saw Malone get two long-range drop-goal chances. One went just short, the other just right – heartbreak for the home side.

The Scorers

For London Irish

Try: Malone
Pen: Malone 2

For Leinster

Try: Nacewa
Pen: Sexton
DG: Sexton

The teams:

London Irish: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Elvis Seveali’i, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10 Chris Malone, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Chris Hala’Ufia, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Richard Thorpe, 5 Bob Casey, 4 Nick Kennedy, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 David Paice, 1 Clarke Dermody.
Replacements: 16 James Buckland, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Paulica Ion, 19 Gary Johnson, 20 Kieran Roche, 21 Peter Hewat, 22 Peter Richards, 23 Ryan Lamb,

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip , 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (captain), 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 John Fogarty, 17 Mike Ross, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Malcolm O’Kelly, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Shaun Berne, 23 Girvan Dempsey.

Date: Saturday, January 23
Venue: Twickenham
Time: 18.00 GMT
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)