Leinster A-44 Leeds Carnegie-17

ONE DIRECTION

“I wonder would Herbie pass an NCT?”

Oisín Langan, Setanta

You know a match was never really a contest when the commentator is saying sentences like that a few minutes into the second half.

Now I have to be fair to Leeds Carnegie...even though their kit looked like something the city's better-known soccer team may have worn back in the 80s, they had a lot of things going against them in this contest (five-day turnaround after a bruising Championship semifinal plus home advantage in the final being decided by a draw) yet they continued to compete right to the very end.

Still...while the visitors' offence went from coast to coast on each possession, Leinster's simply coasted.

In this week's lead photo you see the moment just before Girvan Dempsey's men took the lead for good, and the clock hasn't even reached one minute yet. But does this mean I would have been more entertained by a visit to Croke Park last Friday evening to watch a different crop of youngsters performing before a slightly bigger crowd? Eh, no.

The British & Irish Cup may not have been taken too seriously by the media (or indeed it's own organisers – no sponsorship or even a dedicated website?) but it has to be said the IRFU and Leinster Rugby in particular have used the competition to the max over the years of its existence, giving fringe and academy players the chance to get competitive action to show they are ready for the next level.

And having watched this particular batch play for all five of their home fixtures this season, I have to say there are definitely some stars ready to make that break.

But it's not just the players that this tournament has helped develop...let us not forget the coaches. Before I go through the starting lineup one by one (the only real way to write up a match like this IMO) credit must go to Girve the Swerve, John Fogarty and everyone else involved behind the scenes with the A team over the past couple of seasons.

Sure, many of the victories have been comfortable, but these back-to-back trophies have also included some away trips that were challenging to say the least...Pontypridd in the semifinal a few weeks ago and Newcastle, Munster A and even these same Leeds Carnegie last season.

And where you can see the evidence most of all in the quality of coaching in this group of players is in their defence. That doesn't mean all the coaches are involved in this aspect of the game of course, but it is one area where you need everyone to a man knowing their job and having the willingness to stay focused when it counts and all could be said for Leinster A on Friday.

Leeds may be in the second tier of English rugby but they definitely had players who could hurt us (wingers Doherty and Holmes impressing the most) but I very much doubt that they would ever have come across a defence this season as well-drilled as the one they met in Donnybrook...it was little surprise that they coughed up a couple of penalties for back-chat, such was their frustration.

Sure, the Leinster tackling wasn't so hot when the visitors sneaked in for a couple of quick tries in the final quarter, but only the hardest of hard-ass commentators would punish them for that given they had a 34-point lead at the time.

Here are some thoughts on the starting XV and what the future may hold for them...

DARREN HUDSON – Hopefully Bristol can put away London Welsh in the Championship final because if Darren is to get the full benefit from his stay over there it will need to be in the Premiership. He definitely has the talent to do well, he has been unlucky with injury plus he happens to be at a province which has been generally well-stocked with quality back-three performers. Don't remember him by his slip before the 2^nd Leeds try in this match....he has shone in the B&I Cup and I wish him all the best – hopefully he will be back,

SAM COGHLAN MURRAY – If Ireland ever do put together a men's 7s team, stick this guy's name down first. Natural speed from a standing start that is hard to find in the modern game and when properly utilised, can be deadly. I'm not sure if he's a fit for the way the Leinster senior team are playing, mind you, but with another brace of tries he must surely be knocking on the door for some Pro12 time next season.

BRENDAN MACKEN – Brendan hasn't needed to knock on the Pro12 door, injuries & international call-ups have left it wide open for him. I'm definitely a fan of his style but I'm not so sure he has proven himself at the next level just yet. Let's just say I'd move someone into the much-discussed 13 jumper next season ahead of him until he was able to prove himself ready, particularly defensively (though to be fair his try was from an intercept).

NOEL REID – Noel has come on in leaps and bounds since that semifinal in this competition a few years bac where he played a big part in Leinster throwing away a decent lead against Munster. Very comfortable at 12 and more interestingly, seems to have a good understanding with Cathal Marsh so both could be used in Pro12 action next season. Always good for a try or two in any fixture, though he was unlucky to pick up a knock on this occasion.

DARRAGH FANNING – Very much a fairytale story for Brody from Homeland, er, I mean, Darragh. Solid performer off his wing and suits the senior provincial team's current style perfectly. Played a massive role in making Lote Tuqiri's early season cameo look like a wasted venture, though some may say the man did that himself! Took his try well after a fortunate buildup.

CATHAL MARSH – Definitely needs a string of games at the next level; I'm not sure what much more he can show us at this one. Showed his full array of talents on the first try on Friday – bringing the ball to the gainline, throwing a no look pass to Reid crossing behind him, then after a few phases spotting the overlap out wide which was eventually exploited by Coghlan-Murray. And to cap it all, he made the conversion from the touchline look effortless even though he had to rush it as the ball had already fallen over. Another season in the A team would be a waste for this lad.

LUKE McGRATH – Back in his familiar role of 9 after a brief spell on the wing against Ulster last weekend (when he did extremely well I might add). Saw a gap well for his try and was solid throughout. Finds himself in a position where Leinster are well stocked, let alone Ireland, but much like Marsh he has provided more than enough evidence that he needs to move up.

JACK O'CONNELL – Much like Hudson, you can hardly blame him for being tempted to go abroad as his chances may well be limited. Stuck to his task on the night and was part of a front row which grew back into the game after Leeds clearly targeted success in that area from the start.

JAMES TRACY – A couple of crooked lineout throws but a decent shift from Tracy. Not sure if he's ready to challenge Dundon for the 3^rd hooker role at the province just yet but matches like this one will help him get there.

TADHG FURLONG – Yet another tight head coming down the assembly line. Has had a few opportunties in the Pro12 this season, should have more next.

BEN MARSHALL – Very unlucky to come off worst in a clash of heads with his fellow lock Roux in the early stages...I have liked what I've seen from Ben in this competition and what's more he can play a decent 6 as well when required.

QUINN ROUX – I thought he looked lazy & disinterested the first few times I saw him after his much-vaunted arrival at the province but I did make allowances since he's a youngster who is far from home and deserved time to adjust. His game has much improved since the turn of the year and did well in his 50-minute Pro12 playoff shift, and despite a knock on the head held out for a decent outing on Friday.

JACK CONAN – I have always said it and I always will...if this guy ever plays for the Barbarians the headline will write itself. He's a fair ways off it, of course, but he has progressed well in this comp over the past couple of seasons

DOMINIC RYAN (CAPT) – He, Rhys Ruddock and Jordi Murphy are Leinster's answer to the “three amigos” but “Dippy” has had terrible luck with injuries and fell behind the other two somewhat. Still an awesome talent, however, and hopefully will get more opportunities at senior level next season. With Shane Jennings as mentor, I can only see good things down the line if he stays fit.

LEO AUVA'A – Not sure what the future holds for Leo. He's the sort of player you want when you are looking for crash ball from 5 meters out yet Leinster A didn't need it on the night despite the multitude of tries. He has scored a lot of 5-pointers in this competition but personally I wouldn't look to use him in the senior side at any time of year unless I absolutely had to.

BENCH – Ross Molony put in a solid display despite being called upon much earlier than expected, while of the Byrne twins, they may be tough to tell apart but I do know that hooker Bryan has had some great cameos in this competition throughout the season. Both seem to play with a very “Healy-esque” approach which certainly isn't a bad thing. Elsewhere on the bench there were limited opportunities on the night, though it's worth pointing out that it was Andrew Boyle's try which rescued the semifinal at Sardis Road in Pontypridd.

So there we have it...yet another trophy for Leinster's cabinet, and things looking well for the future. But with the new European format at senior level leading to greater resources for the Premiership & Top 14 clubs, I wonder if Messrs Hudson & O'Connell are the last who will be tempted away from the province.

Next weekend may see a League title up for grabs at the RDS, but of course the sub-plot of the final bow for two massive legends of the game in the province will also take centre stage. At least there is some consolation in that there's a more than decent crop of talent ready to step up – here's hoping they can taste a similar amount of success in Leinster blue down the line. JLP

Click here for post-match reaction on the HarpinOnRugby Facebook page

Also this weekend

Heineken Cup Final: Toulon 23 - 6 Saracens

Amlin Challenge Cup Final: Bath Rugby 16 - 30 Northampton Saints

Leinster A-47 Munster A-15

GETTING HAMMERED ON A FRIDAY NIGHT

Leinster fan or not, there’s no way of putting an objective spin on this one I’m afraid.  It was a good old-fashioned tonking by 5 tries to 2 and quite frankly it could have been by a lot more.

I don’t know much about most of the Munster “next generation”, but I’m not sure if I’d be quite so dramatic as to be worried about the province’s future or anything after this one.  It’s just that  in the first half in particular they were blown away by a Leinster side who played like a squad that has been touring together for weeks, not one patched together from the Pro12 & Academy ranks.

What impressed me most on the night was the passing through the back line, and coach Girvan Dempsey must surely take credit.  Whether it was 9 to 10, 10 to 12 or whatever, each ball seemed to go precisely into the path of the runner and it really did look as though every attack was going to lead to a five-pointer.

It didn’t help Munster’s cause that their set-pieces struggled to get going, in particular their lineout, which as you can see from the lead photo had an overthrown dart or two on which Leinster capitalised every time.

Scrum-time was also good for the Leinster pack, and they put on some well-coordinated shoves against the head for which I’d be inclined to give credit to their much-maligned second row pairing of Tom Denton and Quinn Roux, both of whom were well up for this contest and indeed Denton helped himself to one of the tries.

Man-on-the-match had to be out-half Cathal Marsh who really has come on in leaps and bounds in this B&I series and surely must be good for a Pro12 appearance before the season is out.  Two tries, a rake of successful placekicks and almost full control of the game management made him an easy choice for me and he got a much-deserved cheer from the Donnybrook crowd when he was substituted towards the end.

Now it wasn’t as if Munster just sat back and took their beating; it took them a while to get both feet in the Leinster 22 but once they did they had something of a purple patch…Rory Scannell got over the line towards the end of the first half but was somehow held up by Sam Coghlan-Murray. 

Then in the second period as you would expect they came at the cup holders from the start despite being 25-3 down and they were rewarded when a lineout-maul worked for them in the corner for Shane Buckley.

Although they added a second later through sub Jack O’Donoghue mostly thanks to a sudden absence of Leinster tacklers, the home side were able to respond in kind to each Munster score and the result was really never in doubt.

Noel Reid and Jack Conan got the other two Leinster tries, hooker James Tracy played a significant role in the Denton one and substitute hooker Bryan Byrne had a really impressive cameo, forcing two turnovers along with some good carries towards the end - the Clongowes & Tarf man has had an excellent run in this competition so far.

All in all this occasion went as all the other B&I Cup matches have gone at Donnybrook this season…enthusiastic home crowd, polished Leinster performance, squad numbers on programme not matching the actual ones out on the pitch and of course this blogger forgetting to bring a pen and having to blag one from the club shop.

Sure what else would you be doing of a Friday evening before a massive Heineken Cup weekend? 

Leinster A now play the winner of Sunday’s clash between Cornish Pirates and Pontypridd in the semis, and you’d have to expect Bristol to overcome Leeds in the other one.  So if Leinster reach the final it will make for an interesting match for Bristol-bound Jack O’Connell and Darren Hudson!  Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself a tad…

Hello to all those reading this either in or on their way to Toulon; I’m not jealous at all, I swear ;-) JLP

Leinster A-23 Moseley-13

The photo shows just what kind of a night it was down at Donnybrook for this British & Irish Cup fixture…but despite the constant rain and early Friday evening kickoff time there was a decent enough turnout at old HQ.

We even had the traditional pocket of away support…by pocket I mean three, all of whom arrived about five minutes after kickoff having clearly taken extra time in the pub working out what to shout as they passed by the front of the Grandstand. 

The first guy came up with a simple long drawn out “MMMMMOOOOOOOSSSSSSE-LEEEEEEEY”, while the second clearly thought he’d crack everyone up by loudly asking “Is this where Munster play?” - he nearly got knocked over by the tumbleweeds cascading down from the rows above him.

Not that their antics weren’t a welcome distraction from what was going on in the match at that time - it understandably took the two sides a while to find their footing in the conditions. 

Much as expected, the cup holders looked more organised both with and without the ball, but Kevin Maggs’ outfit did well to hold their own and if anything edged the territory stats at halftime despite being 3-6 down.

Cathal Marsh was having an off night from the kicking tee but managed to slot two while Moseley lock Greg Charlton was in the bin only for outhalf William Hooley to pull one back before the break.

Hooley levelled the scores with a pen on 45 minutes but it wasn’t until our lock Ben Marshall saw yellow that the game really came to life. 

Moseley had enjoyed more good territory early in the half but their number 10 was unable to convert a couple of penalty chances - after Marshall walked for what I think was an off-the-ball incident with his opposite number, they chose to put it in the corner and after a lineout/maul and series of phases they put it out wide and once they were able to evade the Leinster defenders shooting out of the line, winger Matthew Williams had the space to go over.  The conversion was good and it was 13-6 to the visitors.

This was the wake-up call Leinster needed  to kick-start their offence.  Despite going just 3/7 placekicking Marsh played an enterprising 10 and got his backline moving well throughout.

With the visitors still enjoying an extra man, a spot of good jackling by Darren Hudson forced a turnover penalty which we put into the corner - the resulting lineout/maul was too good for the Moseley pack and hooker Brian Byrne, who is getting a knack for scoring in these matches, got the ball over the line.

But the conversion was missed and we needed the moment of the match to put us ahead for good.  Loosehead prop Edward Byrne had just crashed forward into the Moseley half for an impressive gain before knocking on in the tackle resulting in a scrum right outside the 22.

The “non-verbal signals” were being applied by the Welsh ref Daniel Jones (who despite being tall looked about 12 by the way) and although the ball came out of the scrum ok for the visitors, their number 8, ironically named Buster Lawrence, found himself busted by a bone-crunching hit courtesy of our blindside Jack Conan.

Lawrence managed to hold onto the ball in the tackle just about, only to have it ripped from his grasp by scrum-half and skipper on the night Luke McGrath who broke free and still had some work to do to get over the line but showed a cool head to got it done.  Again the Marsh conversion wasn’t successful so the lead was only three.

Just as I was thinking the Moseley backline was surely going to start getting tired, on trotted sparkling clean jerseys marked 20, 21 and 22 all at once…clearly Maggs was well aware what to expect on the night.

But even the fresh legs couldn’t do anything about the simplicity of the third try - the strong attacking platform of a central scrum inside the 22 saw Leinster stack their centres to the left, all of whom were deep in conversation before the put-in, only for the ball to be sent out to the right where Auva’a from the base, McGrath, Marsh and finally sub Andrew Boyle combined for the score that clinched the four match points - and this time the St Mary’s RFC outhalf kicked a beauty from out wide to add the extra two.

Sadly the fourth try just about eluded us, but the win puts us into the quarterfinals and by my calculations we need just a losing bonus in Ealing next week to make sure it’s a home tie.  Not a bad night at the office for Girvan Dempsey’s men.

I’d award man-of-the-match to Luke McGrath though there were some impressive outings all round.  Although I suspect Jordan Coghlan was the guilty party advancing early for the Moseley try, he is a strong presence at 12 and is definitely worth a run of starts for Leinster there.

In the pack we showed just how deep our squad goes particularly in the back-row; Leo Auva’a is a veteran in this comp, Conan’s tackle wasn’t his only contribution and openside van der Flier also impressed.

As for the Championship outfit although they provided much of the expected “bosh” to their credit they did try the odd bit of creativity to unlock the tight Leinster defence and I wish them all the best in the rest of their season as they try to remain in the second tier of English rugby.

Looking at Leinster’s Pro12 schedule I see Zebre coming to the RDS towards the end of the Six Nations so hopefully many on show in this match can get a much-deserved Pro12 start then, if not before.  JLP

Leinster A-31 Cross Keys-0

 

It may have been boys v men age-wise in Cross Keys' favour, but in terms of quality it was very much the opposite at Donnybrook on Saturday afternoon.

 

Words cannot describe just how little the scoreline reflects the total domination of Girvan Dempsey's side for the entire 80 minutes, but since they are all I have I'll give it a go.

 

The only way the Welsh Premiership outfit could get close to the Leinster tryline was by a placekick penalty taken from the halfway line that came down off the crossbar but even then the home defence was well equipped to clear.

 

Where we had problems was going forward...I know that may seem odd given the final scoreline but in the first half particularly several series of phases were thwarted by a knock on or to be fair to Cross Keys, the odd steal.

 

The tries did come however, in quick groups of two, one in either half.  First of all a lineout/maul penalty option at the Bective end led to my man of the match Luke McGrath putting hooker Bryan Byrne through for the opening score.  A few minutes later the scrum-half was involved again as he provided excellent support for his number 10 Cathal Marsh who broke from deep and eventually it was St Marys winger Brody from Homeland Darragh Fanning who easily went over.

 

It was 16-0 to the hosts at half time and the handling errors continued in the second half but as time wore on, the visitors' efforts to stop our momentum became less and less legal and eventually English referee Tom Foley had no choice but to go to his pocket.

 

Truth be told he could have sent half the Cross Keys pack to the line at different stages but he chose to be merciful and waited for the first transgressor to return to the field before he flashed yellow at another.  It was during this second 10-minute spell with an extra man that Leinster finally found the space to secure the bonus point thanks to Fanning's second and a welcome five-pointer for Jordan Coghlan on his return from lengthy injury.

 

Hard to pick out too many players from such a one-sided affair but as I suggested McGrath & Marsh were enterprising halfbacks, Sam Coghlan-Murray loved to attack from deep and in the pack Byrne gave a good account of himself.

 

So all in all a comfortable win with much to work on - let's just say if we play like this in the return next week in front of what is likely to be a passionate Welsh crowd things may be a lot closer.

 

Last, but certainly not least...if anyone has an explanation for Cathal Marsh's kicking style (see video) I'd love to hear it! JLP

Click here for photos by inpho.ie

Won’t make it to Northampton?

Fi Coghlan, Leinster, is tackled by Grace Davitt, Ulster. Women's Interprovincial, Ulster v Leinster, Ravenhill Park, Belfast, Co. Antrim.

Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE ©SPORTSFILE

Whether we go to every Leinster match home and away or just make it to the odd match in the RDS or even cheer from abroad, we’re all fans who want to see Leinster rugby doing well.

And even if you can’t make it over to Franklin’s Gardens this weekend, I’m sure you’ll be planning to catch every second of the action if possible.

I put it to you that you can still see some top-quality live action on Irish shores this Saturday before the match kicks off on Sky.

WOMEN’S INTERPROVINCIAL : LEINSTER V CONNACHT

The Leinster women got their interprovincial campaign off to a storming start last weekend as they crushed their Ulster counterparts by 41 points to 7 up in Ravenhill.

This weekend sees their only home fixture of the championship so it will be a great chance to get out and support the girls as they take on Connacht to hopefully set up a decisive finale with Munster in Thomond Park the following week.

Why not head out to Ashbourne RFC for the 4pm kickoff (just off the N2, not half as far as it sounds to some people!) to sample the unique atmosphere where Ireland defeated both England and France on the way to their historic Grand Slam last season? 

Then you can retire to  take in the Heineken Cup action in the warmth of the club bar.

BRITISH & IRISH CUP : LEINSTER “A” V CROSS KEYS RFC

Cross Keys RFC are in the Dragons region over in Wales and are no strangers to success both domestically and abroad.

The currently lie 4th in the Welsh Premiership with 7 wins out of 9 so far and like Leinster defeated both Ealing Trailfinders and Moseley in their opening Pool 1 encounters in this season’s British & Irish Cup, a competition where they have reached the final before in the past.

They come to Donnybrook this Saturday in the first of a crucial back-to-back tussle which should ultimately determine the winners of the pool.  Kick-off is at 2:30pm and entry is free for Leinster Rugby season ticket holders.

---

So as I say if you’re not travelling to England for your live rugby this weekend, maybe you can make it to one of the above matches…the province could really do with your support.  JLP

Leinster A-49 Ealing Trailfinders-8

[Update April 23, 2014 - Archive time here at HoR and we go back to October and the start of Leinster A’s bid to retain their British & Irish Cup.  It has been a relatively easy passage for them through to this coming Saturday’s semifinal but you can be sure the trip to Pontypridd will be anything but easy.]

WEEEE-HOOOO!!!!!

I won’t say this match was boring, but let’s just say that about five minutes before halftime it was pretty clear which way the result was going to go, which meant the crowd was somewhat subdued.

So when the visiting Ealing Trailfinders, already 21-3 down on the scoreboard, won themselves a penalty around that time, the sound of their skipper giving the above cheer (imagine Blur’s “Song 2” and you have it) provided the assembled spectators with some lasting amusement.

That moment narrowly beat out Darren Hudson’s earlier attempt to kick a spare ball off the pitch during a break in play being met with a “PING!” as it hit the crossbar and came back to him.

Not that I’m trying to put you off going to one of these British & Irish fixtures, far from it…even if you’re not a season-ticket holder (free admission) it’s well worth the tenner to come along and see the players on the fringes of the full Leinster side mix it up in full competitive action.

It’s just that in the Ealing Trailfinders we didn’t exactly have our match last Saturday.  Even their name isn’t as interesting as I first thought…my assumption was that it was a classically British eccentric club name with a fascinating story behind it like Crewe Alexandra or Corinthian Casuals…in actual fact they are sponsored by a travel agent.

And considering they romped to victory last season in the third tier of English rugby and now can’t buy a win, we can get a pretty good picture of how the talent pool across the country is divided, with only the Premiership and a handful of Championship clubs really able to call themselves serious top-class outfits.

But we could only deal with what was put before us and the lads quickly raced into a 14-0 lead thanks to tries from Tom Farrell and Sam Coughlan-Murray.

Now to be fair to the visitors they did enjoy something of a purple patch in the second quarter but they could do nothing to break down the Leinster defence which was every bit as strong as we have seen at senior level, something good to see being consistent throughout the squad.  Ealing could only manage a single penalty in that period.

Then on 28 minutes after a lineout in the Ealing half a well-executed set move from the backline allowed Coghlan-Murray to break the line before an easy offload to his skipper Conor Gilsenan (who has beefed up this season and even added a headband for a distinctly “Jamie”-esque look) who had the easiest of scores.

The second half began with a yellow shown to Ealing hooker Sam Wilkes…it took us a while to take advantage but as he was ready to come back on Leo Auva’a crashed over for one of his trademark scores in this competition and the bonus point was secured.

From then on it was a question of how many but try number 5 was arguably the pick of the bunch.  Out-half Cathal Marsh was my man-of-the-match…a try and 7 out of 7 from the tee including one from the touchline didn’t hurt but he sealed it when he caught a kick in his own 22 and proceeded to jink his way down to the other end of the pitch before an offload to lock Tadhg Beirne who made a beeline for under the posts.

The other try-scorer was John Cooney who surprisingly enough played more than 70minutes before being replaced by Luke McGrath…I can only assume the Irish Under20s skipper from last season will himself get a start in next weekend’s trip to Moseley.

Finally it was good to see Ross Moloney brought on as a sub towards the end…just last March he was appearing at the RDS for St Michaels in the Leinster Schools Cup final…it just goes to show how good the opportunities are at Leinster if you have the ability.

So a comfortable start to Leinster A’s defence of the trophy and no doubt there will be tougher tests to come.  Clearly if I could have afforded the time and expense I would have rather been in Swansea but even with the one-sided nature of the contest (I say few were disappointed to see Ealing skipper Damon Albarn Thomas Anderson getting a consolation try on 71m) this definitely was the next best thing and I hope to see you down at Donnybrook for the next home match vs Cross Keys in December. JLP

The “A” is for “After Extra Time”….

Newcastle Falcons fan Kristian Ross bravely gives his account of the British & Irish Cup final…

Leinster Rugby’s A side completed a wonderful night for the club and the province after an epic extra time win in the British and Irish Cup over Newcastle Falcons on Friday night. Leinster went to Kingston Park knowing the Falcons would be a tough nut to crack; the team from the North East had not lost in the competition all season.

It was the Falcons who started well, an early penalty saw Joel Hodgson put Newcastle ahead 3-0. The Falcons pressed on and good solid attacking finally paid off when Rory Lawson went over the line, and when Hodgson converted and made it 10-0, the faithful around Kingston Park started to dream.

Leinster’s young out half Noel Reid missed his first shot at the posts, but Leinster started to come into their own, and things looked brighter for the boys in blue when Ollie Stedman was binned for Dean Richards’s side, as the Falcons were reduced to fourteen men.

And when Brendan Macken scored an impressive try for the Irish province, Leinster knew they were right back into it, Noel Reid adding the conversion as the Falcons lead was reduced to just three.

Joel Hodgson had the prime opportunity the send the Falcons 13-7 ahead just before half time, but subsequently missed his penalty and it remained at 10-7 going into the interval.

A tense scrappy second half followed with both teams vying for field position, and it was Leinster who looked the more likely. Another two misses via the boot from Hodgson mean Leinster still had a chance, and some great last ditch tackles from a nervy Falcons defence kept them from winning late on. But indiscipline would be the factor, and a penalty award to the team from Dublin saw Noel Reid level the score late on before an audacious 60+ yard penalty to try and win it failed.

Leinster had finally taken their golden chance to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and as the match entered extra time the Falcons were dealt two crushing blows, first the binning of Taiasina Tu’ifua and then a fantastic try following a great run by full back Fionn Carr who put Leinster ahead 15-10 as Noel Reid failed to convert.

Welsh referee Neil Hennessy brought the curtain down on the first period of extra time with the Falcons dramatically needing a try in the second period. An as the home side were roared on following some great attacking play, it looked like it was going to be a fairytale ending when James Fitzpatrick offloaded to Zach Kibirige and he splashed down for what looked to be the game changing try. The ground fell silent as Joel Hodgson converted and the Falcons looked to have stolen it.

But it was in fact the Leinster team who were out to steal victory from the jaws of defeat, but when a mix up in the Falcons defence saw Leinster get good field position and win a scrum, the driving mass of the Leinster forwards saw a penalty won right at the end for the Irish club, and Noel Reid converted, the vital score, making it a double trophy win on the night for Leinster Rugby as the senior side won in Dublin.

A disappointing night for the Falcons, who had worked incredibly hard over the season to reach the final, and with the RFU Championship playoff final first leg against Bedford getting closer, the Falcons will look to make sure that complacency doesn’t creep in. In the end though a fantastic win for the Leinster side who did look the better in the latter stages. Some impressive players such as Brendan Macken and Cathal Marsh standing out. The Falcons know now that promotion is the main item on the agenda, but as for Leinster it was another night of success and another trophy.

Final score : Newcastle Falcons 17-18 Leinster Rugby

 

I'm Kristian. 18. And my mind is filled with rugby shaped thoughts. Supporting Ulster Rugby, Newcastle Falcons and of course the mighty Ireland. Tommy Bowe is the MAN !!!! SUFTUM.

Kristian will be back later in the week wearing his Ulster hat looking ahead to the RaboPRO12 final.

The D4 Double-header

If you’re a Leinster fan, you probably don’t need telling about the big Heineken Cup pool match against the Scarlets today and exactly what is at stake.

But if you’re planning on heading to the RDS for 6pm anyway, why not make it a bit earlier and catch Leinster A v Pontypridd in the British & Irish Cup at Donnybrook Stadium a few hours earlier as well (kickoff 2pm)?

A few reasons why this is a good thing…

1. It’s free admission for season-ticket holders.
2. In the B&I Cup only the winner of the pool progresses to the knockout phase and Leinster are currently level with Ponty on 15pts at the top of Pool 5 so it’s all to play for.
3. Ponty bring a great support with them as they showed almost exactly a year ago when the same two sides met at the same stadium in the quarterfinals so we don’t want to be out-shouted!!!
4. Leinster may have won handsomely a year ago, but things are very different now. Ponty have already beaten us in this season's competition, they lie 2nd in the Welsh Premiership with 10 wins out of 11, and unlike last year we won’t have the luxury of adding players who weren’t used in the HCup match as it is being played afterwards.  All of which means it should be a whole lot closer so the boys in blue will need all the support they can get.

So…why WOULDN’T you head to D4 for lunchtime??? See you there!!! JLP

LEINSTER ‘A’ lineup:

15: David Kearney
14: Andrew Conway
13: Brendan Macken
12: Jordan Coghlan
11: Fionn Carr
10: Noel Reid
9: John Cooney

1: Jack McGrath CAPTAIN
2: Thomas Sexton
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Ben Marshall
5: Mark Flanagan
6: Dominic Ryan
7: Conor Gilsenan
8: Leo Auva’a

REPLACEMENTS:

16: James Tracy
17: Jack O’Connell
18: Jack Conan
19: Josh van der Flier
20: Luke McGrath
21: Cathal Marsh
22: Andrew Boyle

Leinster A-47 Leeds Carnegie-18

[Update - May 21, 2014 : This week’s trip into the HoR archives looks at Leeds Carnegie’s last visit to Donnybrook, ahead of this Friday’s British & Irish Cup Final of course (tickets still available here).

It was the same day the first team played Exeter Chiefs at the RDS to kick off our 2012/13 Heineken Cup campaign.  A mate and I went to Kiely’s for a few beers between matches and we saw Sean O’Brien there (he was injured at the time) when we left to walk down to Donnybrook Stadium he was posing for photos holding a cake helping someone celebrate their birthday. 

We briefly stopped off at the Spar on the way to the ground and when we took our place in the stand, there was Seanie, sitting alone a few rows back.  I know the guy is pacy for a powerful flanker, but to this day I can’t work out how he got there ahead of us.  Though I’d say we were slower ourselves than normal on account of the beers!

Anyway, on to the writeup…]

HERO HUDSON

The nickname “Assassins” for Leinster’s B&I Cup side was never going to stick but they did put a hit out on the English Championship outfit on Saturday night as all the tries that went missing at the RDS earlier showed up.

Pick of the bunch, for me anyway, was the first one.  A light drizzle started shortly before kickoff so full-back Darren Hudson had his work cut out under an early high ball.  It slipped from his grasp when he tried to catch it, but he kept his composure and nabbed it at the second attempt.  Simple thing to do after that recovery would be return the compliment to his opposite number but he chose instead to chip it forward, catch it himself and drive ahead, jinking his way to a position where all he had to do was find Jordan Coughlan outside him for the opening score.

Hudson had a steady hand in the second one as well, finished this time by Brendan Macken, though with Noel Reid unable to convert either, the game still appeared to be a contest early in the second quarter at 10-6 to the home side before a Jack Conan try stretched the lead further before the break.

Then right from the kickoff in the second half it was Hudson’s hand again batting back the restart and from there Leinster secured the bonus point try courtesy of Sam Coghlan Murray.  Two minutes later the very same fullback from St Mary’s RFC got his own fully deserved try, after a strong burst through the visiting defence by Macken.

As you can probably tell, Leeds were hardly at the races here when all was said and done.  And it certainly didn’t help their cause that Leinster were able to call on so many unused players that had been on the subs bench in the Heineken Cup earlier! Already 5 tries down, it must have really added insult to injury to see Isaac Boss, Fionn Carr and Jordi Murphy take the field!  And Leo Auva’a, who actually started and was only ever doing one thing with the ball when he had it, added a 6th try shortly afterwards.

We took the foot off the pedal from there on in, though Auva’a should have had his second when he dropped the ball over the line and Carr finished off a nice move out wide for try number seven.  To their credit though, the visitors played right to the end and tries from substitutes Beck & Graham gave their side of the scoreboard some respectability.

Man of the Match was definitely Hudson for me, though there was to be a sting in the tail for him as a bad fall with two minutes to go seemed to have jarred an injury to his arm or shoulder and he had to be taken off.  There were also good displays from Macken, Cooney, and Denton against his former club.  And at out-half though Noel Reid was only 5 for 9 from the tee he showed some initiative in open play and hopefully he’ll have a good run in this competition.

But all in all a great evening’s bonus rugby for the Donnybrook crowd and a great bonus point in the bag for the trip to Pontypridd next week.  JLP

Leinster's BANDI Cup Opponents

“British & Irish Cup” is too cumbersome to say every time and when you say “B&I Cup” it sounds like the tournament is sponsored by a ferry company that has long since changed its name, (in actual fact they still haven’t managed to find a sponsor going into their fourth year) so I choose to call it the “BANDI” (saying it as a full word to rhyme with “candy”) Cup.

 

There's an argument often made in Irish rugby circles that the provinces shouldn't be putting teams into this competition, instead it should be the top clubs from the All Ireland League. I see the case for this but to be honest I feel it may be more trouble than it's worth for the St Mary's and the Young Munsters of this world to go up against RFU Championship teams that are bound to hammer them into pulp.

 

By sending the provincial A teams not only do the coaches have a chance to see their possibles play competitive rugby but also we have a fair chance of some silverware on these shores, as Munster proved last season defeating Cross Keys in the final and of course Leinster at the RDS in the extra-time semifinal thriller.

 

The competition has expanded this season to allow for 32 teams and now the games will be played on the same weekends as Heineken/Amlin so the Irish provinces will be forced to put out “real” A sides rather than have the odd crossover as they have had in the past. The expansion has allowed Connacht to include a team, which they have called the Eagles, and no doubt this will help the continued rejuvenation of rugby in the province.

 

2012-13 British & Irish Cup – Pools (winners advance to quarterfinals)

Pool 1 - Bristol Rugby, Bridgend Ravens, Cardiff, Ulster
Pool 2 - Bedford Blues, Bedwas, Neath, Stirling County
Pool 3 - Carmarthen Quins, Dundee HSFP, Cornish Pirates, Swansea
Pool 4 - Connacht, Cross Keys, Newcastle Falcons, Newport
Pool 5 - Jersey, Leeds Carnegie, Leinster, Pontypridd
Pool 6 - Gala, Llanelli, London Scottish, Moseley
Pool 7 - Aberavon, Munster, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans
Pool 8 - Doncaster Knights, Llandovery, Melrose, Nottingham Rugby

Here's some brief info on the clubs my beloved Leinster must face...not the easiest draw we've ever had, since one has played in the Premiership while the other two topped their leagues last season...

 

LEEDS CARNEGIE (H Oct 12/13/14, A Sat Jan 19, 3pm)

 

No doubt Tom Denton raised a smile when he saw this draw. He has just completed a move from Leeds to the RDS, now he is likely to face them within a few months. Leeds finished 6^th in the 12-team Championship in the regular season last year, and came within two points of the Cornish Pirates in their play-off pool. They have been something of a “yo-yo” side from Premiership to Championship for the past decade or so and used to be known as Leeds Tykes. Club captain is hooker Andy Titterell, who has 5 England caps and was a surprise inclusion on the 2005 Lions tour of New Zealand.

 

PONTYPRIDD  (A Oct 19/20/21, H Jan 11/12/13)

 

That there are so many empty seats at the grounds of Welsh regions for Pro12 games does not mean they have no fans, it means they are happy to continue supporting their local clubs. This was evident by the decent travelling support (for an awkward Sunday afternoon kickoff at Donnybrook I might add) that accompanied Ponty when they came to Dublin last January for the BANDI Cup quarterfinals and their support didn’t wane even though they were outplayed 32-0. Pontypridd RFC have a proud history and produced current Welsh heroes like Matthew Rees, Morgan Stoddart, Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams.

 

JERSEY (H Dec 7/8/9, A Dec 14/15/16)

 

Many Leinster fans will be delighted at this draw as it gives them a chance to tack on another destination to their travelling tally – besides...the Channel Islands isn't exactly known as a horrible place to visit! Jersey RFC won 26 out of 30 matches on their way to winning the National League 1 last year and the excitement at reaching the Championship must be at fever pitch down there. Notable current players include the “big-haired” Richard Haughton, who has featured for Wasps and Saracens in the past, and prop Ben Evans who has 27 Welsh caps and used to play for Ospreys & Cardiff Blues.

 

So as you can see there is much to look forward to this season, and as always, entry to Leinster’s BANDI Cup games is free for season ticket holders. Unfortunately we'll have to wait for the Heineken Cup fixtures to be announced to get exact dates and times but fortunately it seems the trip to Leeds in January has been set so at least some travelling plans can be made.

 

Once I’m not expected to refer to the Leinster A side as the “Assassins” I’ll be 100% behind them for the new campaign.  JLP

© JL Pagano 2012