A stubborn last-wicket stand of 63 drove home Leinster's advantage in the RSA Interpro in College Park last night.

When Andrew Poynter and Albert van der Merwe came together the Lightning lead was 65.

When they were finally parted the home side led on first innings by 128, and the North West Warriors' slim chance of snatching a win was gone.

And two Max Sorensen wickets in the gloaming rocked them back further.

Whether Leinster win or draw depends hugely on the weather, which has threatened all week and finally started to encroach during tea yesterday.

Bill Coghlan didn't add to his excellent first-day 71, being given out to the first ball he faced, but John Anderson (56) and Alex Cusack (31) battled through the morning movement to bring Leinster close to parity.

But a blistering spell with the second new ball by Peter Connell blew a hole in the Lightning order and it required Poynter's unbeaten 63 to hold the tail together.

In nine hostile overs Connell took 4-8 as he began to find demons in the Trinity pitch and the batsmen's minds.

Now 32, the Manawatu-born Warrior won 56 Ireland caps between 2008-10, when he took 104 wickets.

He was recalled last summer against South Africa ‘A' and a move from CIYMS in Belfast to Strabane has further reinvigorated his prospects.

Max Sorensen struck in the third over of the Warriors reply, and when time was finally called the visitors had an even bigger mountain to climb.

College Park: NORTH WEST WARRIORS 191 (65 overs; A Riddles 47no, J Thompson 45, K O'Brien 2-12) and 22-2 (9 overs; M Sorensen 2-7) LEINSTER LIGHTNING 319 (121.2 overs; B Coghlan 71, A Poynter 63no, J Anderson 56, A van der Merwe 39, P Connell 4-59)