Welsh late show breaks Leinster ‘A’ hearts
Leinster ‘A’ 39 London Welsh 45
Josh Drauniniu was the match-winner at Donnybrook on Saturday evening, when London Welsh defeated Leinster ‘A’ in the quarter-final.
After hooker Bryan Byrne crossed over two minutes from the end, it looked like Hugh Hogan’s hosts had done enough to book their place in the last four.
However, there was enough time for impressive Welsh wing Drauniniu to claim his second score of the contest in stoppage-time – and ensure the progression of the English Championship outfit.
The two-time champions had made a bright start with a seventh-minute try from lock Tadhg Beirne, but tries from Kieran Murphy and Drauniniu put Welsh 14-7.
Following a penalty try for the hosts, Beirne’s second touchdown moved Leinster back into the ascendancy before a Ryan Hodson try sent the sides in to the interval tied 21-21.
A 43rd-minute Joey Carbery penalty put Leinster ‘A’ ahead, and although James Lewis dotted down for the visitors, touchdowns from Adam Byrne and Carbery create some daylight for the hosts.
Yet, Welsh regained the initiative with a second try from flanker Hodson, and even though Leinster ‘A’ responded with a Bryan Byrne effort, Drauniniu finished off a multi-phase attack on the left flank to claim the spoils for Welsh.
LEINSTER ‘A’ – B Dardis (M McGrath 58); A Byrne, C O’Shea, T Daly, C Kelleher; J Carbery, N McCarthy (C Rock 58); J Loughman (M Bent 66), B Byrne, M Bent (O Heffernan 50); T Beirne, D O’Connor (C Ruddock 58); P Timmins, D Aspil, T Ryan.
LONDON WELSH – C Elder; J Lewis, G Armitage, S Jewell (O Barkley 78), J Drauniniu; J Carlisle, R Lewis (J Davies 54); N Trevett (D Marfo 58), H Allen (N Morris 54), J Gilding (B Cooper 75); M Corker, B West; W Skuse (N Trevett 66-70 & B Pienaar 70), R Hodson, K Murphy.
REF – C Evans (Wales)