Leinster Beats Leicester 23-15 in Champions Cup

Leinster overcame a halftime deficit and multiple early setbacks to defeat Leicester Tigers 23-15 in their Investec Champions Cup pool stage match on Friday at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in Leicester, England.

The Irish province, four-time champions of the competition, trailed 15-6 at the break after a first half marked by handling errors and a spirited defensive display from the hosts. Leicester capitalized on Leinster's mistakes to score two tries through wingers Adam Radwan and Ollie Hassell-Collins, with flyhalf Billy Searle adding a penalty and a conversion. Radwan's try came in the 20th minute, a remarkable length-of-the-field effort after he chased and gathered a loose ball following a knock-on by Leinster center Robbie Henshaw inside their own 22. Hassell-Collins touched down just before halftime, pouncing on a cross-field kick from Searle that evaded Leinster's James Lowe.

Leinster's response in the second half was decisive, as they scored 17 unanswered points. Scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park ignited the comeback in the 49th minute, snatching a loose ball from a Leicester scrum near their 22 and evading two defenders to score. Flyhalf Harry Byrne converted and later...