CELTIC LEAGUE Leinster (3) 16 Try: Contepomi Con: Contepomi Pens: Contepomi 3 Connacht (6) 13 Try: Mailei Con: Warwick Pens: Warwick 2

Connacht, 11 points adrift of the Dragons at the bottom of the table, took a six-point lead thanks to two penalties from Paul Warwick.

But Contepomi landed two penalties and then squeezed over for a try which he converted to put Leinster 16-6 up.

Andrew Mailei's late try gave Connacht hope but, despite sustained pressure, they fell three points short.

Leinster are now just a point behind second-placed Munster and three behind league leaders Ulster.

It was a far from impressive performance from Leinster in what was their last competitive match before facing Toulouse in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals on 1 April.

"I was not happy with it," said Leinster coach Michael Cheika.

"We have got to perform better for ourselves and our fans.

"The win keeps us in touch and every time we win it puts pressure on the teams around us."

Leinster: G Dempsey, R Kearney, K Lewis, J Hepworth, D Hickie, F Contepomi (capt), G Easterby, R Corrigan, B Blaney, W Green, C Jowitt, B Williams, E Miller, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: Byrne for Jowitt (63), Gissing for Miller (41).

Connacht: M McHugh, D Yapp, J Hearty, K Matthews, M Mostyn, P Warwick, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty, A Clarke, D Gannon, A Farley (c), J Muldoon, B O'Connor, C Rigney.
Replacements: Mailei for Hearty (39), Slemen for Matthews (9), Tierney for Keane (68), Lacey for O'Connor (47).