Leinster (10) 24
Tries: Berne, Fitzgerald
Con: Contepomi
Pens: Contepomi (5)

Blues (17) 17
Tries: Molitika, MacLeod
Cons: Blair (2)
Pens: Blair

Magners League leaders Leinster fought back from 14 points down to beat title rivals the Blues at the RDS.

The Cardiff outfit looked in command with tries from blindside forward Maama Molitika and fly-half Nick MacLeod inside the opening 12 minutes.

But Felipe Contepomi landed a penalty and then converted a Michael Berne try.

Leinster edged ahead through three more Contepomi penalties and Luke Fitzgerald chased his own kick to seal victory with a late touchdown.

The Irish province are now six points ahead of the Scarlets at the top of the league.

Cardiff looked set to gain revenge for their 30-19 defeat to the Irish side in November when they raced into that 14-0 advantage.

Flanker Molitika showed good co-ordination to touch down one-handed from close range after a spell of Cardiff pressure.

Ben Blair added the conversion and the Blues produced some scintillating interplay for their second try.

Jamie Roberts made the initial thrust forward, Robin Sowden Taylor carried the ball on and found Jason Spice, who teed up his half-back partner Macleod for an angled run to the left of the posts.

A 20th-minute ruck infringement from Xavier Rush allowed Contepomi to boot Leinster's first points.

After a long series of phases close to the visitors' try line, a Shane Horgan pass put Berne over in the left corner.

Contepomi brilliantly converted that 32nd-minute try to close the gap to four points but Blair kicked the second of two penalty opportunities, just before the interval.

With their maul becoming an effective weapon, Leinster's pack grew in stature and Contepomi kicked the home side within four points again with a 47th-minute penalty.

The Blues lost Molitika to the sin-bin for persistent infringing at the ruck and Contepomi landed the resulting penalty for 17-16.

With Scott Morgan penalised at a maul just past the hour mark, Contepomi fired Leinster in front for the first time.

In the 75th minute full-back Fitzgerald chipped past his opposite number Blair and got his left hand to the ball before it bobbled over the end line for the all-important score.

Leinster: Luke Fitzgerald; Shane Horgan, Christian Warner, Michael Berne, Gary Brown; Felipe Contepomi, Chris Whitaker; Cian Healy, Ollie le Roux, Stan Wright, Trevor, Hogan, Leo Cullen (c), Cameron Jowitt, Keith Gleeson, Stephen Keogh.
Replacements: Brian Blaney, Stephen Knoop, Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Chris Keane, Eoin O'Malley, Felix Jones.

Cardiff Blues: Ben Blair, Jamie Roberts, Jamie Robinson, Gareth Thomas, Tom James, Nick Macleod, Jason Spice; John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Tauf'au Filise, Scott Morgan, Paul Tito, Maama Molitika, Robin Sowden Taylor, Xavier Rush (c). Replacements: Gary Powell, T Rhys Thomas, Ben White, Mark Lewis, Richie Rees, Rhys Jones, Tal Selley

Referee: Peter Allan (SRU)