Lansdowne last out in nine-try thriller
In a sparkling nine-try thriller played on the Aviva Stadium’s back pitch, Mike Ruddock’s men
bounced back from two recent defeats with a much-improved performance, especially in attack. They laid the foundations with three first half tries from forwards Joe McSwiney, Tadhg McElroy and Ireland Sevens international John O’Donnell.
‘Tarf’s Leinster hooker Bryan Byrne and McSwiney swapped tries inside a pacey opening ten minutes, before McElroy scored from a lineout drive and centre O’Donnell finished off Scott Deasy’s 38th-minute break, cancelling out a Matt D’Arcy effort at the other end.
That had Lansdowne 21-14 to the good at the end of an absorbing first half
After leaking a Keogh penalty early in the second period, the hosts’ powerful scrum earned the bonus point with a pushover score from flanker Charlie Butterworth. D’Arcy completed his brace and scrum half Sam Cronin scampered through for ‘Tarf’s fourth of the night, but in between Foster Horan touched down for Lansdown.
Lansdowne: Tries: Joe McSwiney, Tadhg McElroy, John O’Donnell, Charlie Butterworth, Foster Horan; Cons: Scott Deasy 4
Tries: Bryan Byrne, Matt D’Arcy 2, Sam Cronin; Cons: Rob Keogh 4; Pen: Rob Keogh
