Penny enjoys dream debut in Leinster masterclass

SCOTT Penny touched down on his Leinster debut as they hammered Ospreys 52-7 in a one-sided Guinness PRO14 encounter at the RDS.

Flanker Penny (19), another of the Irish province’s impressive academy players, scored from a 31st-minute lineout maul, with Conor O’Brien and Nick McCarthy also crossing to establish a 24-0 half-time lead.

Captain Scott Fardy and replacements Ed Byrne, Max Deegan and Bryan Byrne took the try tally to seven, with excellent young fly-half Ciaran Frawley’s 100 per cent kicking haul seeing him finish with 17 points in a man-of-the-match performance.

Ospreys’ only consolation in the game was a late try from Hanno Dirksen.

Both team selections were severely hampered by the November internationals, but Leinster, who absorbed the early pressure, made light of it and Fardy ghosted through a gap to set up centre O’Brien (right) for an 11th-minute opener.

Three lost lineouts saw Scott Otten’s throw under increasing pressure from Fardy and company, and a high tackle from Olly Cracknell had Leinster hunting for a second try.

Frawley and McCarthy were both stopped short before the former landed a 23rd-minute penalty.

Further indiscipline from Ospreys invited Leinster forward and, from a second maul attempt, Ireland Under-19 international Penny piled over near the left corner.

The visitors thought they had scored a wellworked try in response, but James Hook’s score was ruled out by the referee for obstruction from debutant centre Johnny Kotze in the build-up.

Fardy was to the fore in a bout of powerful carrying from the home forwards, which led to scrum-half McCarthy stretching over for his 37th-minute converted score.

The Conference B leaders had their bonus point wrapped up just four minutes into the second half, James Lowe making the initial incision before the forwards took over, and the impressive Fardy managed to touch the ball against the base of the right-hand

post.

A Frawley and Noel Reid-inspired break led to Fardy carrying up close before Ed Byrne burrowed over to make it 38-0.

Adam Byrne gobbled up a Reid kick and fed Deegan on his inside to finish off a 63rd-minute try from 40 metres out, and Keelan Giles’ try-saving heroics denied Hugo Keenan a breathless score from deep.

There was still time for Ed Byrne to provide the assist for his twin brother Bryan’s try, with eight minutes of the game remaining.

Frawley was unerring with the boot — putting the outcome well beyond doubt — and the eighth try of the night saw the Ospreys at least salvage some pride, Davies’ slick pass sending speedy winger Dirksen past two defenders to nip over by the posts.

Weekend results/fixtures

Last night: Scarlets 29 Ulster 12, Leinster 52 Ospreys 7, Glasgow 40 Cardiff Blues 15 Today: Cheetahs v Benetton (12.30pm) Tomorrow: Southern Kings v Connacht (1pm), Zebre v Munster (3.30pm), Dragons v Edinburgh (5.30pm)