Byrne strikes late for Blues
ROTHERHAM TITANS………………………………. 9
LEINSTER ‘A’……………………………………………. 12
Daire Walsh
A 73rd-minute drop-goal from Ross Byrne was the difference at Clifton Lane on Saturday afternoon, when Leinster ‘A’ got their British & Irish Cup Pool 1 campaign off to a winning start against Championship outfit Rotherham Titans in testing conditions. The Blues were winners of this competition in 2013 and 2014, and led thanks to a 15th-minute penalty from Byrne. The Leinster out-half was sin-binned on 32 minutes, but despite conceding a routine three-pointer to Rotherham’s Ross Jones, Leinster centre Steve Crosbie converted a brace of penalties in Byrne’s absence.
Yet, a magnificent kick from distance by Jones ensured that Rotherham had reduced Leinster’s lead to three points (9-6) by the break. Jones was on hand to level matters nine minutes after the restart, but Byrne’s majestic drop-kick settled the tie.
Scorers for Rotherham Titans: Pens: R Jones (3).
Scorers for Leinster ‘A’: Pens: S Crosbie (2), R Byrne (1); DG : R Byrne.
ROTHERHAM TITANS: S Scanlon; M Keating, L Hayes, J Barker, C Wilson; R Jones, A Davies; R Hislop, C Maddison, M Tampin; T Holmes, G Oram; K Gilmour, A Birch, M Argyle.
Replacements: J Preece for Maddison (h-t), L Thiede for Tampin (51), J McKinney for Jones, T Salmon for Oram (both 64), L Carter for Davies, M Cromie for Hislop (both 76).
LEINSTER ‘A’: B Dardis; D Fanning, T Farrell, S Crosbie, M McGrath; R Byrne, C Rock; P Dooley, B Byrne, R Burke-Flynn; T Beirne, G Thornbury; P Timmins, D Leavy, T Ryan.
Replacements: M Bent for Burke-Flynn, R Molony for Thornbury (both 45), J Murphy for Ryan (65), Burke-Flynn for Dooley (72).
Referee: R Thomas (Wales).