Steve Shingler stole the headlines for Scarlets as his last-minute kick rescued a 21-19 victory from the jaws of defeat, after Jack Carty had struck late on for Connacht at the Parc y Scarlets.
Steffan Evans and Michael Collins' second-half scores had cancelled out Matt Healy's first half effort, but two penalties apiece from Carty and Craig Ronaldson looked to have handed the visitors their first GUINNESS PRO12 victory in four matches.
But with Aled Thomas keeping them in touch off the tee, the scene was set for Shingler to slot the decisive 78th-minute penalty through the uprights after Ronan Loughney was sin-binned for a tip tackle in a ruck.
Leinster had briefly surged to the top of the GUINNESS PRO12 thanks to their impressive 22-9 triumph at Ospreys, but after Scarlets' win on Sunday find themselves second in the standings with a game in hand.
Dave Kearney and Jonathan Sexton were in imperious form for the boys in blue; Kearney with a try-double either side of the interval and the boot of Sexton adding seven points in another hugely impressive all-round display since the No.10's return to the province.
Noel Reid also crossed for Leinster although they could not quite muster the bonus-point try in the closing stages, while Dan Biggar kicked all of Ospreys points on a night where he was not at his best from the tee.
Elsewhere, Edinburgh built on their 1872 Cup success over the festive period with a comfortable 28-13 win over Benetton Treviso.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne converted Damien Hoyland's early score and added a penalty in the first half with Treviso mustering two James Ambrosini penalties in response.
But ill-discipline from the Italians kept them at arm's length with Hidalgo-Clyne was imperious from the tee.
And after a penalty try on the hour mark made sure of the result, Hoyland's second try of the night put some gloss on the scoreline for Edinburgh - who are now up to third in the GUINNESS PRO12 table.
Two other fixtures in the GUINNESS PRO12 were postponed to make way for the European fixtures that were rearranged in the wake of the Paris disaster.
Ulster were victorious in France as a remarkable comeback handed them a narrow 24-23 victory at Oyonnax, while Glasgow Warriors went down 34-10 at Racing 92.
TRY OF THE WEEKEND
Both Sexton and Kearney were hugely impressive in Leinster's Friday evening victory at Ospreys, and the pair combined sensationally for the evening's opening try. With Sexton given some room in the midfield, the fly-half's cross-field kick was weighted to perfection and gathered by Kearney who stepped inside and shrugged off two defenders to score a brilliant try.
BREAK OF THE WEEKEND
With Scarlets level with Connacht at 13-13, Regan King's break on the hour mark sent them ahead. The centre collected the ball from the breakdown before picking a tiny gap in the Connacht line to surge through, before expertly drawing the defender and feeding Collins in to score.
PLAY OF THE WEEKEND
It may not have been the most difficult kick ever seen in the GUINNESS PRO12, but Shingler's 78th-minute effort under immense pressure won Scarlets the game in their clash with Connacht. After Carty put the visitors ahead with only three minutes remaining, Loughney was pinged and Shingler's 30-yard effort crept inside the right post to keep the Welsh side sitting pretty atop the GUINNESS PRO12 pile.
PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND
An easy pick this week with Sexton delivering arguably his finest performance in a Leinster shirt since his return to the province following the World Cup. The Ireland international was sublime, particularly with the ball in hand, against Ospreys and outclassed opposite number Dan Biggar to keep Leinster right behind Scarlets in the GUINNESS PRO12 standings.
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