Exiles bounce back at Madejski
Sun, 04 May 2008 19:20
London Irish, putting the disappointment of their Heineken Cup semifinal loss to Toulouse last week behind them, bounced back at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday to record an impressive 43-20 Guinness Premiership win over relegation-bound Leeds Carnegie.
The Exiles looked to be suffering from the after effects of that heart-breaking defeat against the French giants, Toulouse, when they conceded an early score.
Leeds left wing Tom Biggs stepped his way through some weak Irish tackling to score under the uprights. Fullback Leigh Hinton added the easy conversion for a 7-0 lead.
However, it took the Exiles - who were minus several regulars through injury - just five minutes to stamp their authority on the game against a Leeds side already confined to playing in National Division One next year.
Springbok prop Faan Rautenbach, fullback Topsy Ojo and flank Declan Danahar scored tries - with Eoghan Hickey succeeding with just one of three shots at goal - for a 17-10 lead at the break.
Hinton added a late first-half penalty for Leeds.
Right wing Tomas De Vedia, scrumhalf Paul Hodgson, a penalty try and replacement flyhalf Shane Geraghty accounted for the four second-half tries by the Exiles.
Hickey and replacement fullback Peter Hewat (two) added three more conversions to complete the scoring for the home team.
Leeds stayed in touch until well into the second half - with penalties by Hinton and replacement Adam Greendale, plus a second try, scored by flank Hendre Fourie, converted by Greendale.
The scorers:
For London:
Tries: Rautenbach, Ojo, Danaher, De Vedia, Hodgson, penalty try
Cons: Hickey 2, Hewat 2
For Leeds Carnegie:
Tries: Biggs, Fourie
Cons: Hinton, Greendale
Pens: Hinton, Greendale
Yellow card: Hendre Fourie (Leeds Carnegie, 34)
The teams:
London Irish: 15. Topsy Ojo, 14. Tomas De Vedia, 13. Peter Richards, 12. Seilala Mapusua, 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau, 10. Eoghan Hickey, 9. Paul Hodgson, 8 Richard Thorpe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Declan Danaher, 5 Bob Casey (captain), 4 James Hudson, 3 Faan Rautenbach, 2 David Paice, 1 Clarke Dermody.
Replacements: 16 Tonga Lea'aetoa, 17 Stuart Mackie, 18 Gary Johnson, 19 Phil Murphy, 20 Jon Fisher, 21 Peter Hewat, 22 Shane Geraghty.
Leeds Carnegie: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 John Holtby, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 Andy Tuilagi, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 James Brooks, 9 Joe Bedford, 8 Adam Balding, 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 Rhys Oakley, 5 Kearnan Myall, 4 Stuart Hooper (captain), 3 Tommy McGee, 2 Vili Ma'asi, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Adam Hopcroft, 17 James Parkes, 18 Erik Lund, 19 Danny Paul, 20 Darren Edwards, 21 Adam Greendale, 22
Scott Armstrong.
Referee: Sean Davey
Touch judges: Bob Mullis, David Kurk
TMO: Brian Abrahams
