Depleted Leinster draw some comfort

Celtic League: Leinster - 16 Neath-Swansea Ospreys - 16 Gary Ella's side may not have produced the ideal response to their 30-point drubbing by Llanelli a fortnight ago but, considering the run of bad luck they had to contend with, a draw will be considered an acceptable result.

They had to make do despite losing two internationals as Girvan Dempsey (groin) and Brian O'Driscoll (calf) both cried off earlier in the day. The Ireland captain will have to wait until next Friday's trip to Ravenhill before making his 50th appearance for the province.

Shane Horgan came in on the wing with the in-form James Norton taking over the full-back duties. The switch allowed Gordon D'Arcy to revert to his new-found position of outside centre - in fact he popped up right across the back line in yet another eye-catching display.

His departure early in the second half, with an injured right shoulder, immediately took the unpredictable element out of Leinster's attacking play.

In the second minute D'Arcy produced his first moment of class when he broke the cover, but he failed to spot Brendan Burke's run outside him when a simple offload would have resulted in a certain try.

Horgan battled for every inch, while Felipe Contepomi showed glimpses of enterprise but, without the Ireland centre pairing, they were severely handicapped.

With the Cardiff Blues - the Ospreys' main rivals for the final Welsh place in the Heineken European Cup - demolishing Munster earlier in the evening, it was imperative the visitors came away from Dublin with some points. Leinster had no real incentive and it showed.

The Osprey's only try came before the opening half had settled and it exposed Leinster defensive frailties close in. From an attacking scrum in the 22, centre Dave Tiueti's inside pass gave Shane Williams a clear run to the line. The defence really should have shadowed a player of his reputation as he came off the blindside wing.

Brian O'Meara, duly raising his game in the presence of Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan, reduced the deficit with a well-struck penalty. The Cork man's kicking continued to be of a high standard, while he twice showed an eye for a gap.

Leinster spurned another try-scoring opportunity soon after. Victor Costello, winning his 100th cap, made the initial rumble before the ball was channelled out to Ben Gissing but he put his head down for the line despite the fact that Burke had taken another good support line.

Leinster probed for the remainder of the half with their only scoring opportunity coming from an O'Meara penalty that drifted left. Gavin Henson made no mistake with a penalty from in front of the posts in injury time to leave it 10-3 at the interval.

Leinster duly came out fired up after the break and were soon camped in the Ospreys' 22. O'Meara reduced the deficit with his second penalty after D'Arcy was held up just short of the line after another mazy run. It proved to be the centre's last contribution.

The momentum shifted back in the home side's favour when Norton showed good strength to get over the line. O'Meara added the conversion to leave it at 13-10.

The slight bit of steam left in the contest dissolved thereafter with Henson levelling the contest just after the hour mark.

A powerful break by Horgan almost engineered a try for John McWeeney but Henson got across well to deny him in the corner. Leinster had to settle for a three-point cushion as O'Meara tagged on another penalty.

Henson reeled them in within three minutes with a well-struck effort of his own. With so much more on the line it was the Welsh side who were asking all the questions in the closing stages.

SCORING SEQUENCE - 13 mins: S Williams try, 0-5; G Henson conv, 0-7; 19: B O'Meara pen 3-7; 43: Henson pen, 3-10. 44: O'Meara pen, 6-10; 47: J Norton try, 11-10; O'Meara conv, 13-10; 63: Henson pen, 13-13; 70: O'Meara pen, 16-13; 73: Henson pen, 16-16.

LEINSTER: J Norton; S Horgan, G D'Arcy, D Quinlan, B Burke; F Contepomi, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Coyle, M O'Kelly, B Gissing, D Dillon, N Ronan, V Costello. Replacements: J McWeeney for D'Arcy (44 mins), A McCullen for Ronan (66 mins), G Hickie for Byrne (72 mins), L Cullen for Gissing (75 mins).

NEATH-SWANSEA OSPREYS: G Henson; S Terblanche, J Storey, D Tiueti, S Williams; S Connor, A Williams; D Jones, B Williams, A Jones, A Newman, L Tait, J Thomas, R Pugh, J Bater. Replacements: P James for Tait (49 mins), N Bonner-Evans for A Jones (55 mins), E Seveali'i for Storey (64 mins), S Tandy for Pugh (68 mins)

Referee: M Changleng (SRU).