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| | Saturday, 20 January, 2001, 19:45 GMT Leinster miss out on last eight  Leinster's Girvan Dempsey attacks against Biarritz Biarritz 30-10 Leinster Leinster's European Cup quarter-final hopes were dashed by a comprehensive defeat against Biarritz in the Stade Aquilera. Former Wigan rugby league star Frano Botica landed six penalties and a conversion for the French outfit, who led 9-3 at half-time and then took charge after the break. Second-half tries from flankers Christophe Milheres and Serge Betsen ensured victory for home side in what was a winner-takes-all Pool One clash, with Leinster needing a draw or a win to reach the last eight. Leinster's second-half try came from Ireland full-back Girvan Dempsey with scrum-half Brian O'Meara converting and landing a first-half penalty. Botica gave the French side a 6-0 lead with two penalties from just outside the Leinster 22.
Leinster responded with a surging attack culminating in a penalty which O'Meara landed on 11 minutes to reduce the arrears. Biarritz dominated possession forcing Leinster to give away a number of penalties. However, Botica could only find his range once more before the break to extend Biarritz's lead to six points. Leinster upped the pace just ahead of the break but failed to get a much-needed try. Leinster would have clinched a place in the quarter-finals before this final pool match but for a last-minute penalty by Duncan Hodge which earned Edinburgh Reivers a 34-34 draw at Donnybrook. That meant the Irish outfit needed a win or a draw in France to claim a quarter-final place as pool winners. Leinster went into the match without Denis Hickie, who was sidelined by a broken hand, and back row forward Eric Miller. | | See also:  Other top Northern Ireland stories: Links to top Northern Ireland stories are at the foot of the page. | |
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