Montferrand 20 Leinster 23
A try right at the death from international wing Denis Hickie made it a clean sweep for the Irish provinces in the European Cup as Leinster scored a memorable away win against Montferrand today.
Montferrand, unbeaten at their Parc des Sports fortress in European competition prior to the visit of Matt Williams charges, had been expected to see off a Leinster side hit by the loss of Malcolm O'Kelly and duly established a narrow 12-9 first-half lead.
Gerald Merceron, typically ruthless for the French, picked up where he left off and kicked a total of five penalties on the day to extend his side's advantage.
But a second-half try from Gordon D'Arcy, who was injured in the process of crossing the line by a late David Bory lunge, bridged the gap and Hickie's converted score a minute from time earned a three point lead for the Lions.
Leinster relied on some resolute defending during a full five minutes of injury-time but hung on to score their first ever win on French soil.
Leinster play host to the French club under the floodlights at Donnybrook next Friday night.