Leinster leave S14 visitors Red-faced
Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:15
Leinster concluded their pre-season preparations with a resounding 48-19 victory over Super 14 outfit the Reds at Donnybrook.
The Magners League champions were in control early on and scored a tenth-minute try from hooker Bernard Jackman after a quick line-out with Jamie Heaslip.
Felipe Contepomi missed the conversion. Four minutes later the Reds were back level when Poutusi Luafutu crossed over.
Leinster regained the lead after a spell of pressure when Shane Horgan capped off some excellent work from Contepomi after 26 minutes.
Recently named vice-captain Shane Jennings was next on the scoresheet after a good drive into the Wesley End of the ground to give the hosts a 15-5 lead.
Credit to the lads who never let their heads drop and first Aidan Toua (34 minutes) and Digby Ioane (38 minutes) crossed over, with flyhalf Ben Gollings adding both conversions.
Then in injury time of the first period, Cian Healy scooped the ball to pile over the line, with Argentina's Contepomi adding the points, to give Leinster a narrow 22-19 advantage at the break.
The game ebbed and flowed and it was Rob Kearney who was the opening try-scorer of the second half when he capped off a fine move involving the impressive Brian O'Driscoll to gather a kick and chase and spin clear of the Reds defence.
Contepomi converted and the floodgates opened with Contepomi (64 minutes), substitute Sean O'Brien (79 minutes) and Leinster's most capped player Malcolm O'Kelly getting on the scoresheet.
It was a good workout played in front of a near capacity Donnybrook ahead of the start of the Magners League title defence next weekend away to Cardiff.
Scorers:
For Leinster:
Tries: Jackman, Horgan, Jennings, Healy, Kearney, Contepomi, O'Brien, O'Kelly
Cons: Contepomi 4
For the Reds:
Tries: Luafutu, Toua, Ioane
Cons:
Gollings 2
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Rob Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Chris Whitaker (captain), 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Cameron Jowitt, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Malcolm O'Kelly, 3 Ronan McCormack, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements - from: Fergus McFadden, Gary Brown, Luke Fitzgerald, Simon Keogh, Chris Keane, Jamie Hagan, John Fogarty, Brian Blaney, Trevor Hogan, Stephen Keogh, Sean O'Brien.
Reds: Unavailable.
Referee: Simon Mcdowell
Touch judges: Mark Hermin, Michael Black
With thanks to leinsterrugby.ie
