Leavy treble helps Leinster ‘A’ on right path past Trailfinders

Leinster ‘A’ 36 Ealing Trailfinders 10

Daire Walsh

Dan Leavy helped himself to a hat-trick of tries at Vallis Way on Saturday afternoon, when Leinster ‘A’ continued their unbeaten run in Pool 1 of the British & Irish Cup against Ealing Trailfinders.

With two games still to play, the Peadar Timmins-led Blues are currently sitting at the summit of the group and are on the verge of a place in the knock-out rounds for a sixth consecutive season.

Leinster broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the action, as winger Adam Byrne crossed the whitewash after discovering a gap through the heart of the Ealing defence. Cathal Marsh was on target from the subsequent conversion, but Ealing responded with an unconverted five-pointer from James Stephenson.

This only offered a brief respite to the hosts, however, and courtesy of further tries by Leavy and Mick McGrath, Leinster had developed a 24-5 interval cushion.

The visitors were on course for another away win, and courtesy of Leavy’s second score of the tie, they secured a bonus point in the early stages of the second half.

Leinster’s momentum was briefly halted by a try from lock Carwyn Jones, but after Leavy registered his third try of the game, Leinster ‘A’ eventually finished with 26 points to spare.

Scorers – Ealing: J Stephenson, C Jones, try each. Leinster ‘A’: D Leavy 3 tries, A Byrne, M McGrath 1 try each, C Marsh pen, 4 cons.

EALING – J Love; C Wilson, S Stanley, J Munro, J Stephenson; T Roberts, A Davies; W Davis, R Lawrence, A Penny; C Jones, A Preocanin; H Orr, A Bradley, C York. Reps: J Kilbane, K Gibson, S Rodman, D Kenny, A Ellis, A Walker, L Daniels.

LEINSTER ‘A’ – C Kelleher; A Byrne, C O’Shea, T Daly, M McGrath; C Marsh, C Rock; P Dooley, B Byrne, O Heffernan; T Beirne, R Molony; J Murphy, D Leavy, P Timmins. Reps: A Dundon, J Loughman, D O’Connor, T Ryan, M D’Arcy, S Crosbie, I Fitzpatrick.

REF – D Jones (Wales).