Worcester end Leinster cup bid
WORCESTER WARRIORS………………………… 15
LEINSTER ‘A’…………………………………………. 13
By Daire Walsh
British & Irish Cup
Leinster ‘A’s quest for a third consecutive British & Irish Cup crown came to an end at Sixways Stadium last night, after they succumbed to a narrow defeat against Worcester Warriors.
With 58 points apiece in the competition to date, Leinster’s Cathal Marsh and Tiff Eden of Worcester are scorers-in-chief for their respective sides, but neither fly-half was able to break the deadlock early on. The holders did gain the ascendancy thanks to Marsh’s routine 28th-minute place-kick, but despite adding a second successful penalty before the half’s end, a well-worked converted try from Gilbert offered the hosts a slender 7-6 advantage at the break.
On the resumption, after collecting a high ball, Worcester full-back Percy Humphreys crossed for a crucial unconverted try 12 minutes from time.
The Worcester line was finally breached by Noel Reid in stoppage-time, but the fate of the defending champions had been effectively sealed by an earlier Alex Symons three-pointer.
Scorers for Worcester Warriors: M Gilbert, P Humphreys try each, A Symons pen, T Eden con.
Scorers for Leinster ‘A’: N Reid try, C Marsh 2 pens, con.
WORCESTER WARRIORS: P Humphreys; S Smith, A Grove, R Fatiaki, T Biggs; T Eden, JB Bruzulier; O Fainga’anuku, B Sowrey, J Rees; J Percival, D Sanderson; M Cox, M Gilbert, R de Carpentier.
Replacements: D George, R Bower, M Daniels, H Taylor, J Arr, A Symons, D Hammond.
LEINSTER ‘A’: C Kelleher; S Coghlan-Murray, B Te’o, N Reid, M McGrath; C Marsh, L McGrath; P Dooley, A Dundon, R Burke-Flynn; R Molony, T Denton; B Marshall, D Leavy, P Timmins.
Replacements: B Byrne, I Hirst, T Beirne, J Coghlan, C Rock, S Crosbie, C O’Shea.