Leinster set up Irish final with rivals Ulster
IT will be an all-Irish final in the Celtic Cup after reigning champions Leinster A hammered Dragons A 55-17 in Dublin and Ulster A got past Ospreys Development XV19-3 in Belfast.
They are the top two teams in the eight team league and cannot be overtaken now in this weekend’s final round of fixtures.
The Scarlets A side are the best placed in the Welsh region following their 46-28 triumph in Carmarthen over Munster A.
That was only the second win in 16 games against the Irish provinces by Welsh teams in the developmental tournament this term and their third of the season.
The young Scarlets crossed for seven tries, courtesy of Tomi Lewis (2), Tom Rogers (2), Tom James, Jac Morgan and Danny Drake. But Munster didn’t leave empty handed thanks to a brace of tries from Jonathan Wren, a penalty try and a touchdown from Jack Crowley.
Reigning champions Leinster A hit the half-century mark for the fourth time in six games this season – they scored a mere 47 in the other two – as they beat Dragons A 55-17 in Dublin. There was a hattrick for Gavin Mullin among the nine home tries.
Centres Tom Hoppe and Aneurin Owen crossed for the visitors, who grabbed a third consolation score near the end. Meanwhile, Connacht Eagles thrashed Cardiff Blues A 42-12 at the Arms Park, while the Ospreys Development side were beaten 19-3 in Belfast as Ulster A bagged their place in the final.
Conor Hayes ran in unopposed from 30 metres to launch Connacht’s victory march. Further tries from Diarmuid Kilgannen and Shane Jennings gave them a 21-5 interval lead.
Alun Lawrence crossed for the home side in the first-half and then Lewis Francis went over from close range at the start of the second. But it was oneway traffic after that with Luke Carty adding two penalties for the visitors before Joshua Dunne powered over for the bonus-point try.
Josh Thomas kicked a penalty for the Ospreys to briefly take the lead but it accounted for the only points they could muster on the road while Ulster replied with three tries.