Newport Gwent Dragons suffered their second Celtic League loss as they went down fighting to Leinster by 33 points to 14. The Dragons shared the try count two apiece but indiscipline let The Dragons down as they gave away a string of penalties and had two players sent to the sin bin.
Craig Warlow had to pull out just before the match with illness so 20-year old Aled Thomas who joined the Region in the summer on a development contract made his senior competitive debut. Leinster scored 10 points in injury time and the scoreline did not give a fair reflection of the match.
The Dragons took an early lead through a Leigh Hinton try. Sione Tuipulotu gathered a loose ball and flicked on to Hal Luscombe who sent wing Hinton over for a try which he converted.
Contepomi replied with a penalty in front of his own posts. The Dragons conceded another with Tuipulotu illegally used his shoulder and that was quickly followed by another which put Leinster ahead four minutes from half time.
The Dragons could have restored their lead but Hinton's penalty attempt hit the post. Leinster replied with a try through wing Robert Kearney to give them a seven point lead at half time.
The second half saw Andrew Brown replace Steve Jones at hooker and six minutes into the half Richard Bryan replaced Rhys Oakley and Adam Black came on for David Maddocks.
Contepomi landed his fourth penalty after Andrew Hall was sent to the sin bin for going in from the wrong side.
Jason Forster replaced Jamie Ringer which signalled a Dragons revival with Bryan and Aled Thomas all nearly scoring. Eight minutes from the end Luscombe scored when Leinster failed to clear.
In the last minute of normal time Contepomi kicked his sixth penalty and in injury time added another and Dempsey scored in the corner.
