Lethal Leinster retain crown

Leinster ‘A’ 44 Leeds Carnegie 17

A strong opening period set the foundations as Leinster ‘A’ secured back-to-back British & Irish Cup triumphs with a 27-point win over Leeds Carnegie at Donnybrook last night.

Two penalties by out-half Cathal Marsh gave the hosts a positive early platform, and with Leeds scrum-half James Doherty in the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on, Sam Coghlan-Murray squeezed in for the opening try after 14 minutes.

Carnegie eventually registered a score in the 25th minute, a three-pointer from Jonny Bentley, but scrum-half Luke McGrath’s converted try eight minutes before the break pushed Leinster 20-3 ahead at the interval.

Superb touchdowns by Coghlan-Murray and Darragh Fanning either side of Marsh’s 53rd minute penalty put the outcome beyond doubt.

Leeds refused to thrown in the towel, however, and converted tries by wingers David Doherty and Jonah Holmes significantly reduced the deficit.

However, centre Brendan Macken brought the curtain down on an outstanding Leinster display with a try underneath the posts.

Scorers for Leinster ‘A’: S Coghlan-Murray 2 tries, L McGrath, D Fanning, B Macken try each, C Marsh 3 pens, 5 cons.

Scorers for Leeds Carnegie: D Doherty, J Holmes try each, J Bentley 1 pen, 2 cons.

LEINSTER ‘A’: D Hudson; S Coghlan-Murray, B Macken, N Reid, D Fanning; C Marsh, L McGrath; J O’Connell, J Tracy, T Furlong; B Marshall, Q Roux; J Conan, D Ryan, L Auva’a.

Replacements: R Molony for Marshall (7), E Byrne for O’Connell (h-t), C O’Shea for Reid (48), B Byrne for Tracy (55), J Van Der Flier for Roux (60), A Boyle for Macken (70), J Cooney for McGrath (76), O’Connell for Furlong (80).

LEEDS CARNEGIE: S McColl; J Holmes, J Clarke, F Burdon, D Doherty; J Bentley, J Doherty; C Beech, J Graham, D Tussac; C Green, M Myerscough; D Sisi, C Walker, J Rowan.

Replacements: L Imiolek for Beech, R Beck for Sisi (both h-t), P Nilsen for Graham, B Hooper for Tussac, J Barker for Clarke (all 53), M Smith for Myerscough (60), C Georgiou for J Doherty (71).

Referee: B Whitehouse (WRU).