Powerful Doncaster Knights demolish Munster

Doncaster Knights 38 Munster 17: British and Irish Cup: Another body blow on a bad week for Munster.

Despite taking an early lead, the province’s A side were no match for a more powerful and controlled Doncaster Knights side in Saturday’s B and I Cup quarter-final at Castle Park.

Niall Scannell’s opening penalty wasn’t any indication of what lay in store for Mick O’Driscoll’s inexperienced outfit. The home side soon took control and the lead with tries from Michael Hills (2) and Bruno Bravo that Dougie Flockhard converted for a 21-3 half time advantage..

Doncaster moved further ahead with Latu Macaafi’s try, along with a penalty and conversion from Flockhard, who also converted his own try.

Munster did strike for a couple of late tries from Rory Scannell and Dan Goggin, with Scannell adding the conversions, but those scores were really only consolation efforts for a well beaten team.

The defeat allows Leinster fly the Irish flag after Girvan Dempsey’s side clinching a place in the semi finals with a convincing 51-32 win over Rotherhan Titans. Leinster led 19-3 after 15 minutes and never looked back to secure their big win.

MUNSTER A: Stephen Fitzgerald; Darren Sweetnam, David Johnston, Gearoid Lyons, Greg O’Shea (D Goggin 53); Rory Scannell, Neil Cronin (J Cullen 67); Liam O’Connor (P McCabe 28), Niall Scannell (K O’Byrne 40), Ger Sweeney D (Lavery 53); Donncha O’Callaghan, Lee Nicholas; Shane Buckley, Sean Dougall F (Bradshaw 62), Jack O’Donoghue (capt, B Kilkenny 68).

DONCASTER: Paul Jarvis (Paul Roberts 78’), Dougie Flockhart, Andy Bulumakau, Bevon Armitage (Mat Clark 67’), Tyson Lewis, Piers Francis, Bruno Bravo. (Jack Maplesden 47’), Richard List (Jack Bergmanas 67’), Ben Hunter (Vili Veikoso 62’), Ross Davies (WillGriff John 70’), Tyler Hotson, Jon Phelan, Latu Makaafi (Matt Challinor 62’), Michael Hills, Alex Shaw.