LEINSTER HAMMERING FOR HAPLESS OSPREYS
SCOTT PENNY touched down on his Leinster debut as they hammered Ospreys in a one-sided PRO14 encounter at the RDS. Penny, 19, another of the 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 halftime 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. Ospreys’ only consolation was a late try from Hanno Dirksen. Both team selections were severely hampered by the November internationals, but Leinster made light of it as Fardy ghosted through a gap to set up centre O’Brien 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 Nick McCarthy were both stopped short before the former landed a 23rd minute penalty. Further indiscipline from Ospreys invited Leinster forward and Ireland Under-19 international Penny piled over from a maul. Powerful running from Fardy set up scrumhalf McCarthy for a 37thminute converted score. The Conference B leaders had their bonus point wrapped up four minutes into the second half, Fardy touching the base against the base of the right hand post. A Frawley and Noel Reidinspired break led to Fardy carrying up close before Ed Byrne burrowed over to make it 38-0. As the clock ticked down, there was still time for Ed Byrne to provide the assist for his twin brother Bryan’s try. The eighth try of the night from Hanno Dirksen saw Ospreys salvage some pride. LEINSTER: Keenan, A. Byrne, C. O’Brien, Reid, Lowe (Kelly 68), Frawley, McCarthy (O’Sullivan 41), Dooley (B. Byrne 48), Tracy, Bent (Abdaladze 63), Molony (Kearney 63), Fardy, Murphy, Penny, Doris. Scorers: Tries: C. O’Brien, Penny, McCarthy, Fardy, E. Byrne, Deegan, B. Byrne. Cons: Frawley 7. Pens: Frawley. OSPREYS: Hook (L. Morgan 45), Dirksen, Allen, Kotze (T. Williams 59), Giles, S. Davies, Habberfield, R. Jones (G. Thomas 59), Otten (Parry 41), Botha (Jeffries 59), Nemsadze, Ashley, Cracknell, Cross (W. Jones 65), King. Scorers: Tries: Dirksen. Cons: S. Davies. Ref: Marius Mitrea (Italy).