Clermont Auvergne survive late Leinster comeback

Clermont Auvergne held on to seal victory over Leinster in the Heineken Cup this afternoon.

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The sides were evenly matched in the opening half-hour as Johnny Sexton and Morgan Parra traded penalty kicks.

Wesley Fofana helped open up a lead for Clermont Auvergne heading in to half time, but the Irish side still looked capable of scoring.

Parra continued a strong performance with the boot to extend the French side's lead, while Leinster continued to push for a try.

The hosts' efforts were rewarded 15 minutes from full time when Shane Jennings crossed the whitewash, giving Leinster hope of a comeback, with Fergus McFadden adding a second try in the 78th minute.

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Despite their late efforts, Leinster were unable to overturn Clermont's lead, slipping to their second loss in the Heineken Cup this season.