Young guns to the fore as Reds and Leinster win
THE future of Irish rugby looks good as the youngsters of Munster and Leinster shone brightly in URC action yesterday as both provinces won impressively.
Ireland Under-20 star Brian Gleeson scored his first senior try during Munster’s 45-14 win over Dragons at Musgrave Park in Cork.
The Tipperary teenager came off the bench to cross with Rory Scannell, Gavin Coombes, player-of-thematch Calvin Nash (2), Tom Ahern and Craig Casey also going over.
Graham Rowntree’s side had three tries on the board to lead 17-7 at half-time, with Academy fly-half Tony Butler converting the first of them from Scannell.
Teenage flanker Ryan Woodman scored on his first start for Dragons who also saw Aki Seiuli cross from a maul, but once Ahern took care of the bonus point, Munster eased their way to a seven-try triumph.
The 21-year-old Butler also made his first competitive start for Munster, spearheading an early break which ended with Dragons losing Angus O’Brien to injury.
Dane Blacker was introduced at scrum-half with Rhodri Williams, on his 100th club appearance, moving to full-back. The visitors held out until Scannell struck in the 14th minute.
Having been released through a gap by Kiwi Alex Nankivell, winger Nash had Scannell on his inside to finish off from 15 metres out. Butler quickly converted.
Coombes took two defenders with him over the line in the 17th minute, and Nash then ran in a superb solo effort from halfway.
Although a knock-on spoiled a promising maul, Dragons quickly roared back through the fast-breaking Williams. Blacker deftly dangled a kick out to left for Wales Under-20 captain Woodman to collect and claim his first URC try, converted by Will Reed.
Jack Dixon’s turnover penalty gave the Welsh outfit a timely lift early on the restart, yet Ahern made it over in the 47th minute following powerful carries by John Ryan and Edwin Edogbo.
Nice hands from Ahern, Edogbo and Shane Daly allowed Casey to make it 31-7.
Bradley Davies was held up short from a lineout drive, before Williams’ tackle prevented Munster newcomer Sean O’Brien from scoring. Gleeson crashed over in the 64th minute and replacement Jack Crowley’s inviting grubber kick saw Nash double his tally, albeit he injured himself in the process.
Aggrieved that Nankivell avoided a card for catching Ashton Hewitt high in a tackle, Dragons at least had the final say through replacement Seiuli, with Reed converting off the post.
Meanwhile, at the RDS, Leinster ended Edinburgh’s winning start to season with a well-judged 36-27 bonus-point victory.
Running out five-try winners, Leo Cullen’s young side led 21-6 at halftime, thanks to converted scores from Lee Barron, Max Deegan and Ciaran Frawley.
Edinburgh lock Glen Young’s yellow card saw their first-half deficit increase from four points to 15, despite Ben Healy responding with his second penalty.
The wind-backed Scots rallied with replacements James Lang, Connor Boyle and Boan Venter all crossing, but Leinster made sure to stay out of reach.
Third-quarter tries from Tommy O’Brien and James Culhane, coupled with replacement Sam Prendergast’s 70th-minute penalty, ensured it was another maximum haul for the hosts.
Former Munster fly-half Healy gave the Scots a 17th-minute lead following a Hamish Watson steal, but they began the second quarter by conceding a soft try.
In Cardiff, Welsh rugby said farewell to Alun-Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny. The trio, who won 352 caps between them, enjoyed a fitting send-off from international rugby as Wales beat the Barbarians 49-26.