Malcolm O'Kelly sets up an attack for Leinster

Leinster had shown better composure in attack, but their opening try owed more to poor Newport tackling than any subtle passing or running.

Flanker Eric Miller swapped his place in the scrum to join the backs, and had little trouble breaking through between Shane Howarth and Andy Marinos to run in unopposed.

Nathan Spooner's easy conversion gave Leinster a 10-3 lead.

But five minutes was all that Newport needed to bring the scores level again.

Centre Andy Marinos showed considerable strength to force his way over after Howarth refused a kickable penalty opportunity to spin the ball along the backline.

Newport were firmly in the driving seat for the rest of the half, and were twice denied by try-saving tackles from the visitors.

Howarth then stretched their lead with an opportunist drop-goal, and his superbly placed cross-field kick soon afterwards led to a second try.

Left-winger Ben Breeze timed his jump to perfection to collect the ball before his opposite number and merely had to dive over to cross the try line.

Newport's Andrew Powell looks for a way past Brian O'Meara

Spooner kept his side within touching distance at 18-13 with a penalty early in the second-half, but Leinster were forced firmly on the back foot for the next 15 minutes.

Just when Newport looked like converting their constant pressure into points, Leinster full-back Peter McKenna stunned the home crowd when he ripped the ball from Matt Pini in the tackle and ran 75 meters for a remarkable try.

Spooner converted, but Howarth's penalty four minutes later gave Newport a slender one-point lead at 21-20.

The game was then thrown into confusion when the bulb went out, prompting Leinster coach Matt Williams to decided it was too dark to carry on.

Fifteen minutes later, the officials decided the game should continue and Newport were quickly back into their stride.

But after constant pressure near the Leinster try line, Howarth missed two penalties to let Leinster off the hook.

Spooner, though, made no mistake with his two opportunities to maintain his side's perfect record in pool six.

Newport (18) 21: Tries: Marinos, Breeze. Cons: Howarth. Pens: Howarth 2. Drop Goals: Howarth.

Leinster (10) 26: Tries: McKenna, Miller. Cons: Spooner 2. Pens: Spooner 4.

Att: 10,285

Newport: M Pini; M Mostyn, A Marinos, J Pritchard, B Breeze; S Howarth, O Tonu'u; R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony, S Raiwalui (capt), M Voyle, P Buxton, A Powell, J Forster.
Reps: A Garvey, P Young, I Gough, G Gravell, N Brew, D Burn, J Strange.

Leinster: P McKenna; S Keogh, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; N Spooner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O'Kelly, E Miller, V Costello, K Gleeson.
Reps: P Coyle, G Hickie, B Casey, T Brennan, B Willis, A Dunne, A Magro.

Referee: Chris White (England).