Dragons 31 Leinster 26: IT WAS A real case of after the Lord Mayor's show for the champions Leinster as they slumped to a thrilling 31-26 defeat to Newport Gwent Dragons.
Michael Berne's double was overshadowed by a rampant Dragons, who ran in four tries inside a golden opening quarter.
Centre Berne touched down in either half but it was too little and too late for Leinster, who at one stage trailed 24-3.
Michael Cheika's men may have clinched their second Celtic title last weekend against the same opposition with a crushing 41-8 win but they looked out of sorts in the opening quarter here.
But kick-off, there was no sense of what would follow as Cheika named Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Girvan Dempsey, who were all looking to impress new national boss Declan Kidney.
Ireland A star Jonathan Sexton was selected at outhalf for the rested Felipe Contepomi and went head-to-head with the 19-year-old Jason Tovey.
But Leinster got off to a disastrous start when Steve Jones ran in for the night's opening try inside three minutes.
A delicate chip and chase by the talented Tovey was picked up by Rhodri Gomer-Davies, who pinned Leinster into their own 22.
In the following phase, Jones fumbled the ball but it ricocheted off a Leinster defender before rebounding off Jones's head and into his arms. The champions were left flat-footed and hooker Jones had the simple task of touching down under the posts.
Tovey converted and just three minutes later the Dragons doubled their advantage when Phil Dollman's scintillating run cut Leinster's defence wide open.
After Dollman had beaten three defenders, his superb offload found the onrushing Wayne Evans, who touched down.
O'Driscoll and co were clearly stunned and at sixes and sevens as Horgan booted waywardly into touch under pressure from Colin Charvis.
And things went from bad to worse. Dragons could not believe their luck on 14 minutes when Hugh Gustafson was driven over for the hosts' third try.
Sexton reduced the deficit three minutes later with a penalty but the rampaging Dragons continued their free-scoring opening quarter when Dollman secured the bonus-point with a touchdown in the right corner.
Tovey added the extras to leave Leinster trailing 24-3.
But the champions showed character to hit back with 12 unanswered points.
Michael Berne's try on 26 minutes was augmented by fullback Dempsey inside four minutes as he took Horgan's short pass.
But the Dragons held firm for a 24-15 half-time lead.
Sexton booted his third successful kick of the night in the 51st minute to leave Leinster just six points adrift.
Despite Leinster's efforts, the hosts grabbed a deserved victory with 15 minutes remaining when Adam Black stormed over after James Harris's burst.
Berne crashed over to set up a grandstand finish and Sexton kicked his third penalty from long range but the Dragons held on for a famous victory at Rodney Parade.
SCORERS: Dragons: Tries: S Jones, W Evans, H Gustafson, P Dollman, A Black. Cons: Tovey (2), Sweeney: Leinster: Tries: M Berne (2), Dempsey. Con: Sexton. Pens: Sexton (3).
NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS: K Morgan; G Wyatt, R Gomer-Davies, P Dollman (P Emerick 56), R Fussell; J Tovey (C Sweeney 61), W Evans (A Walker 61); H Gustafson (S Jones 68), S Jones (B Daly 54), P Palmer (A Black 34); A Hall, L Charteris (A Jones 54); C Charvis (c), J Bearman (L Evans 40), J Harris. Sinbinned: Harris 81
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), M Berne, G Brown (C Whitaker 65); J Sexton, C Keane (C Warner 65); C Healy (R McCormack 51), B Blaney (B Jackman 51), S Knoop (J Gomez 17); T Hogan, D Toner (M O'Kelly 51); C Jowett (C Leyden 56), S Keogh, K McLaughlin.
Referee: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
