BRITISH & IRISH CUP
ROUND FIVE BLUES SELECT XV ..... 27 LEINSTER A ................ 41
THE Blues Select XV performed admirably, but still remain winless in this season’s British & Irish Cup after falling to a defeat by Leinster A at Sardis Road.
The home side began the game in lively fashion with Ben Thomas, Scott Gibson and Jim Botham all showing up well.
The Blues opened the scoring just after the 10-minute mark with Thomas kicking a simple penalty.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession the Blues couldn’t add to their score and were duly punished when Cathal Marsh crossed for a try that he converted himself to make it 7-3 after 17 minutes.
Leinster registered their second and third scores in quick succession around the half-hour, with Ciaran Frawley and Conor O’Brien both crossing.
At 19-3 the visitors were threatening to run away with the game, but the Blues fought back.
Wing Dafydd Smith dotted down in the righthand corner after a fine pass from Josh Martin to make it 19-8.
Leinster try-scorer O’Brien was then sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on just before the interval.
The home side took full advantage to cross through Botham after an initial break from Jack Roberts to pull themselves back to within four points at half-time.
Leinster started the second half on the front foot ,with Jack Aungier crossing for the Irish side’s fourth try and Marsh slotting a penalty to make it 27-15 after 55 minutes.
Once again, the home side fought back and registered their third and fourth tries through the impressive Thomas and Gibson to level the scores with just over 10 minutes left on the clock.
The game wasn’t level for long with the visitors upping the ante to register their fifth and sixth efforts through Gavin Mullin and Jack Kelly to hand the Blues Select another defeat.