Deegan brace sees off Knights
Doncaster Knights 17 Leinster A 41
Leinster ‘A’ kick-started their British and Irish Cup campaign with a bonus-point victory over Doncaster Knights at Castle Park.
After weathering an early Doncaster storm, Noel McNamara’s charges opened their account with a Conor Dean penalty. The fly-half was also on target on the 27th-minute, and thanks to a brace of converted tries from the impressive Max Deegan, the visitors created daylight between the teams.
However, when a Will Owen try was supplemented by a bonus strike from Limerick native Declan Cusack, the Leinster lead was reduced to 13 points (20-7) in time for the interval.
Following fine build-up play from the hosts, Tyson Lewis crossed for an unconverted score early in the second half.
The Blues regained their composure and placed the outcome beyond doubt with a series of scores. Peter Dooley touched down after an extended move, front-row partner Jeremy Loughman drove over on 68 minutes, followed by a fifth courtesy of full-back Jordan Larmour.
Doncaster responded with a Michael Hills five-pointer, but it was mere consolation against a dominant Leinster ‘A’ outfit.
Doncaster Knights – C Foley; A Bulumakau, L Hayes, W Owen, T Lewis; D Cusack, M Heaney; J Bergmanas, B Hunter, J Sproston; M Challinor, M Eames; S Jones, M Hills, A Carpenter. Reps – C Langdon, C Quigley, I Williams, N Civetta, A Shaw, T James, S Humberstone.
Leinster ‘A’ – J Larmour; H Keenan, J O’Brien, C Frawley, I Fitzpatrick; C Dean, H O’Sullivan; E Byrne, B Byrne, V Abdaladze; M Kearney, J Murphy; P Timmins, W Connors, M Deegan. Reps – R Strauss, P Dooley, J Loughman, O Dowling, N McCarthy, H Byrne, M Silvester.
Ref – A Evans (WRU).