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James Lowe celebrates his third try. Ben Brady/INPHO
London Calling
Lowe hat-trick sees Leinster survive late Northampton surge at Croke Park
The province were dominant in the first half before the Saints set up a tense finish.
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LEINSTER ARE ONE game away from Champions Cup glory after overcoming a dogged Northampton Saints side at Croke Park, 20-17.
The province led by 12 at half-time thanks to two James Lowe tries and a Ross Byrne penalty, and appeared to put the game beyond any real doubt when Lowe added his third shortly after the restart.
Yet Northampton then sparked into life with two second-half tries, Leinster hanging on to claim a three-point win.
They’ll now play the winners of tomorrow’s meeting between Toulouse and Harlequins in the May 25 final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Leinster scorers:
Tries: Lowe [3]
Conversion: R Byrne [1/3]
Penalty: R Byrne [1/1]
Northampton scorers:
Tries: Hendy, Seabrook
Conversions: Smith [2/2]
Penalty: Smith [1/1]
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