Leinster and Connacht impress at home
LEINSTER got their URC campaign back on track with a 3413 hammering of the Sharks at the RDS last night.
Leo Cullen’s squad – who are currently without their stable of Ireland internationals who are in recovery mode after the World Cup – suffered a 43-25 defeat against Glasgow in the opening round.
But the Blues looked more like themselves at their Dublin fortress yesterday as they crossed for five tries in a emphatic display.
Jordan Larmour, Max Deegan – who went home with the player of the match award on his 100th appearance for the province – and Tommy O’Brien all bagged tries while young wing Rob Russell scored a brace off the bench.
Harry Byrne kicked seven points off the tee while promising out-half Sam Prendergast, a star performer for the Ireland U20s last season, made an eye-catching second-half cameo from the bench.
Meanwhile, Connacht’s storming start to the season continued as the Westerner’s scored 20 unanswered points in 15 second-half minutes to see off Glasgow Warriors 34-26 at the Sportsground yesterday.
Tom Jordan’s try on the stroke of half-time had Warriors leading 1914, with Kyle Rowe scoring on his debut and their maul forcing a penalty try. Diarmuid Kilgallen crossed for Connacht to add to JJ
Hanrahan’s three penalties. Indeed, Glasgow leaked 15 points from penalties and were held scoreless for most of the final 40 minutes. Dylan Tierney-Martin, Kilgallen and Cathal Forde put Connacht well clear before sub Jamie Dobie’s lastminute bonus-point score.
Summer signing Hanrahan was influential from the tee again, landing three penalties inside the opening 14 minutes to settle Connacht into their stride.
Glasgow got a gift of a try in response though, as Forde failed to deal with Jordan’s restart kick and the Rowe pounced to score.
Connacht quickly hit back to lead 14-7, with Cian Prendergast stealing a lineout, Tom Farrell breaking past halfway and Caolin Blade’s kick through sat up invitingly for Kilgallen to go over in the corner.
Glasgow drew level in the 24th minute, their maul doing the damage as Angus Fraser surged towards the line and Jarrad Butler conceded a penalty try for sideentry, with referee Adam Jones also flashing his yellow card.
Huw Jones’ inside pass sent Jordan sidestepping over to put the visitors ahead for the first time.
Five minutes after the restart, Prendergast fed hooker TierneyMartin to crash over. Young centre Forde converted and then used a scrum penalty to kick his side into a 24-19 lead.
And the classy Kilgallen had the final say when he intercepted a Jordan pass for a 55-metre run-in.