Heineken Cup: Clermont edge kicking battle with Leinster

Clermont Auvergne pulled clear at the top of Heineken Cup Pool 5 with a 15-12 victory over defending champions Leinster at Stade Marcel Michelin.

Morgan Parra kicked four penalties and his half-back partner Brock James added a drop goal as the French side scored all their points in the first half.
Leinster stand-off Jonathan Sexton kept his side in touch with four penalties, three before half-time and the last in the 53rd minute to reduce the deficit to three points.
But the Irish province, who beat the same opponents in the semi-final of last season's competition, could not find a way through during a hard-fought finale.
The result extends Clermont's unbeaten home record to 51 matches - a run that dates back to November 2009 - and puts them on 14 points in Pool 5 after three straight wins.
Leinster picked up a losing bonus point for their efforts and remain in second place in the pool with nine points ahead of the return fixture in Dublin next Saturday.
http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_report/0,,11069_55402_1,00.html