TRAILING by 14 points after just 13 minutes play and then forced to make no fewer than seven substitutions - two within 28 minutes of the start because of injuries - Leinster found the burden too great at Brooklands on Saturday against English first division club Sale.

The end product was defeat by 33 points to 17, yet the occasion was not without its benefits to Leinster. Leinster had won the match between the A side and Sale seconds, and at a stage in the second half of the main event looked set to take control after reducing the 19-5 deficit they carried just after the interval to 19-17 midway through the half. Leinster at that stage had Sale under severe pressure, but gave away a needless penalty under the Sale posts and the counter-attack yielded Sale a fine try, and from that point the home side regained control.

"Obviously we are disappointed to have lost, but the two matches we played were well worthwhile," said Leinster manager Jim Glennon. "We got a lot of injuries and fortunately they do not seem too serious. At least we saw nearly every member of our squad in action. These were our first outings and obviously that showed."

Leinster lost out-half Alan McGowan after 23 minutes, and his experience and goal-kicking skills were missed. Yet his replacement, Russell Southam revealed a keen football intellect and did quite well." Ciaran Clarke was also a first-half. casualty with a knee injury. Wing Paddy Gavin had to go off at the interval. The closing quarter was especially costly for Leinster as Southam, Dean Oswald, Kurt McQuilkin and Steve Jameson all had to retire. Jameson, among the best of the Leinster forwards, had an X-ray on his hand injury for a "suspected broken bone.

The greater pace of the Sale backs was a feature and it was revealed in the way they scored the try in the 63rd minute which effectively finished off the Leinster challenge.

Sale had taken the lead after four minutes when their very good second row Dan Baldwin got a try. He was the most influential line-out player on the field. A fine piece of creative skill opened the way for Sale's second try by full-back Tom Biem, and with both tries having been converted, Leinster were down 14 points.

But the Leinster pack settled and produced some good driving play, while their scrummaging was especially good. Centre Martin Ridge made a very good return to the representative arena and he and McQuilkin formed a resolute centre combination. For all their endeavour, however, Leinster could not quite match the greater pace and flair of the opposition.

A try by Gavin just before the interval owed much to a fine break by Ridge and Leinster trailed 14-5 at half-time. When Sale scored their third try four minutes into the second half it left Leinster 19-5 down but Leinster had their best spell from this to the concession of that crucial try in the 63rd minute. Greg Duffy scored a try in the 48th minute after Chris Pim was held just short of the line and the ruck was won. Southam converted and then Ridge got Leinster's third try after some good work by Southam. That was not converted.

But Sale struck for that decisive fourth try and their fifth try came one minute from time.