Set piece power gets Welsh home

LONDON Welsh secured a bonus point victory as they proved too strong for Munster A at Midleton RFC, Cork.

James Buckland’s side scored three tries in the opening half to lead 20-10 at half time and grabbed the bonus-point fourth try in the second-half off a line-out maul.

Buckland said: “We’ve obviously caught them early on and we are quite pleased to get five points from this one.”

Munster A flanker John Foley got the opening try on six minutes and Steve Crosbie converted. Welsh responded with full-back Chris Elder crossing after an overlap on the right wing. Robbie Nairn grabbed the visitors’ second try in the 27th minute.

Their third came five minutes later. Captain Ben Pienaar did the damage and Carlisle converted to give them a 17-10 lead. Carlisle added a penalty on the stroke of half time.

Colm Hogan crossed for Munster’s second try on 54 minutes to bring them within five points of London Welsh.

But this was as close as they got as Elder bagged his second try from a lineout maul in the 63rd minute. Carlisle converted and replacement Glyn Hughes added a penalty.

Munster A coach Peter Malone said: “They dominated the set piece.”