Leinster edge Cardiff Blues in a close 13-16 win

Cardiff Blues 13 - 16 Leinster

Leinster came up with a spirited second half performance to come from behind and register a close 13-16 victory over Cardiff Blues in their Pro12 clash on Saturday.

The Dublin-based side added 13 points after they were 10 points down at half-time to inflict the first defeat of the season on Danny Wilson's men. The game started with a big blow to Cardiff Blues as Sam Warburton was replaced by Josh Navidi in the 13th minute after suffering an injury.

Even though, Johnny Sexton opened the account for Leinster with a 19th minute penalty, it was his counterpart Gareth Anscombe, who dominated the first half by adding two penalties and a converted try between 26th and 35th minute to lead Cardiff Blues to a 13-3 scoreline at half-time.

However, Leinster bounced back in the second half with Sexton adding another penalty in the 44th minute and was followed by number eight Rhys Ruddock's try, five minutes later. Sexton's conversion allowed Leinster to level the scores 13-13 with 30 minutes to go into the game.

Cardiff Blues suffered another major setback as referee Dudley Phillips sin-binned Navidi for off-side in the 69th minute and Sexton fully capitalised on it, scoring his third penalty in the game to take Leinster to a 13-16 win.

The win has taken Leinster to third in the table while Cardiff Blues slipped to fourth.