Bath 13 - 18 Leinster: Sexton’s boot puts Leinster in driving seat and Bath in trouble

Heineken Cup holders Leinster took a giant stride towards this season’s quarter-finals – and left Bath facing an early European exit.

Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton kicked six penalties while his two clinching goals arrived during the closing seven minutes.

Bath went close to collecting one of their most notable Heineken Cup scalps in recent seasons when England wing Matt Banahan barged over from close range after 65 minutes.

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Centre Olly Barkley, who slotted two first-half penalties for a 6-0 lead, added the conversion to edge Bath one point in front, but Sexton nudged Leinster towards a priceless Pool Three away win when home skipper Francois Louw infringed.

To complete a miserable spell for South African Louw, he was sin-binned as Bath ended the game a man short.

Bath head to Dublin for next Saturday’s return fixture and require a Herculean effort to turn things around.

The game started at a frantic pace, with Bath enjoying the lion’s share of possession, but Leinster soon displayed their attacking prowess when Luke Fitzgerald counter-attacked from inside his own 22 before the move was halted 60 metres downfield.

Barkley booted Bath into a 16th-minute lead, and with the home back-row of Louw, Guy Mercer and Simon Taylor offering repeated ball-carrying threats, Leinster had their work cut out.

But the visitors’ organisation in defence kept Bath out, restricting them to a second Barkley penalty six minutes before half-time. Leinster, for all Bath’s possession, looked the more dangerous with ball in hand, and flanker Sean O’Brien almost broke through as the interval beckoned.

Bath snuffed out the danger courtesy of Banahan, but they infringed again in stoppage time and Sexton made no mistake from 25 metres out, leaving Leinster 6-3 adrift.

Ireland prop Cian Healy was introduced for the second period, replacing Heinke van der Merwe.

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Leinster established momentum after a surging run by O’Brien and he was then guilty of wasting a golden chance, ignoring a three-man overlap after wing Isa Nacewa’s pace and awareness had set up the opportunity.

Pressure, though, was mounting on the Bath defence after Sexton’s second penalty hauled Leinster level, and he completed his hat-trick for 9-6 after 54 minutes.

Another Sexton penalty, kicked after Leinster prop Mike Ross was held up over Bath’s line, looked to have given the visitors a commanding lead.

Bath hit back 15 minutes from time when Cuthbert delivered a try-scoring pass to Banahan.

Barkley landed the conversion to edge Bath in front and set up a rousing finale between two evenly-matched teams.

However, Louw infringed, and Sexton sealed the deal as Leinster stayed on course to possibly reach their third European final in four seasons.