Montauban 17

Leinster 18

A LEINSTER SIDE without their Irish internationals got the new season up and running with a good workout against a Montauban outfit gearing up for another promotion bid in Pro D2.

That bid could be scuppered before it starts next week against Carcassonne as the club faces penalties for apparent breaches of the salary cap.

But they put a good performance as both sides used extended squads in a game with several fiery moments.

Montauban hit the front with a converted try from winger Pierre Klur after eight minutes, but Leinster settled and began building the phases.

James Lowe was prominent at full-back and Joe Tomane wasted little time getting stuck in on his debut as Leinster took the game to their hosts.

Tomane: Leinster new boy got stuck in. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Noel Reid pulled back a penalty after 11 minutes after a good phase of play from the European and Pro14 champions.

The heat made the going tough, especially for Leinster, but they pulled the gap back to 7-6 after 17 minutes with another Reid penalty.

Montauban captain Pierrick Esclauze spent 10 minutes in the bin as things got feisty but Leinster were unable to make their numerical advantage count and Jerome Bosviel made it 10-6 at the break with a penalty for Montauban.

Both teams made a raft of changes at the break with Dave Kearney coming in for his first action since suffering a shoulder injury in March.

Ruddock: team captain in the absence of Johnny Sexton. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Rory O’Loughlin edged Leinster, despite a couple of yellow cards for Lowe and Conor O’Brien, in front with a try after 53 minutes — Tomane was well off target with the conversion — before James Tracy got Leinster’s second try after 58 minutes and this time Tom Daly converted to make it 18-10.

Leinster had to withstand a late Montauban rally but the home side got in for a deserved converted try in the final play of decent workout for both sides.

Montauban scorers:

Tries: Pierre Klur, Cyril Guilpin.

Conversions: Jerome Bosviel [2].

Penalty: Jerome Bosviel [1].

Leinster scorers:

Tries: Rory O’Loughlin, James Tracy.

Conversion: Tom Daly [1].

Penalties: Noel Reid [2].

MONTAUBAN: R Swanepoel; P Klur, W Sukanaveita, A Silago, M Debois; J Bosviel, P Graou; E Tekassala, P Van der Westhuizen, B Zanon; P Esclauze, C Dry; S Munoz, J Engelbrecht, A Domenech.

Replacements used: C Guilpin, N Agnesi, S Sergueev, D Vaotoa, Y Ruel Gallay, T Fortunel, B Cadiou, J Facundo, P Tailhades, C Desmoulin, C Vaotoa, C Braendlin, J Maninoa, S Augry, C Briscadieu, F Domenech, A Luatua, P Sayerse, M Mathy.

LEINSTER: J Lowe; A Byrne, R O’Loughlin, J Tomane, B Daly; N Reid, N McCarthy; P Dooley, B Byrne, M Bent; R Molony, I Nagle; J Murphy, R Ruddock (captain), M Deegan.

Replacements used: J Tracy, E Byrne, V Abdaladze, M Kearney, W Connors,  J Gibson-Park, J O’Brien, D Kearney, O Dowling, C O’Brien, T Daly, J Kelly, G Mullin.

Referee: Maxime Challon.

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