REPORT: Connacht Eagles 67-7 Leinster Development XV

By Aron Hegarty
 
Connacht Eagles produced a devastating display as they notched up 11 tries in a one-sided encounter with Leinster Rugby in their interprovincial series game at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Abbotstown today.
 
First-half tries from hooker Charlie Ward, wingers Josh O’Connor and Mack Hansen (2), and captain Conor Fitzgerald put the Westerners 29-0 up as they overwhelmed and utterly dominated the hosts; restricting them to just two serious attacks in the match.
 
The one-way traffic from the visitors continued after the restart with further tries from centres Peter Sullivan and Cathal Forde, substitute Darragh Kennedy, prop Greg McGrath and full-back Oran McNulty for 60-0.
 
An outclassed Leinster did grab a late consolation through replacement Conor Duggan of St. Vincent’s Castleknock College before Connacht prop Will Reilly completed the rout in added on time.
 
Following their narrow defeat to Ulster last weekend, Leinster were looking to bounce back and make a strong start as they practiced hitting the tackle pads right up until a minute before the whistle sounded for kick-off.
 
However, they came up against a formidable Connacht outfit who from the onset looked to play an expansive game, spinning the ball wide at every opportunity and starved Leinster of possession and territory with their rush up defence forcing turnovers.
 
The difference in quality told inside the opening 10 minutes as the speedy Hansen dived over in the corner on four minutes and Ward crossed from close range on the other side as Connacht raced into a 10-0 led.
 
O’Connor showed Jonah Lomu-like strength on 17 minutes as he brushed off three attempted tackles while sprinting down the touchline to score. Fitzgerald made it third-time lucky with the conversion for 17-0.
 
Five minutes later, Hansen grabbed his second try when he stepped inside following a break in midfield and a stunned Leinster were left with a mountain to climb.
 
Yellow cards were shown to Leinster captain John McKee and Connacht centre Sullivan before the home side registered their first major attack inside the Connacht 22’ on the half hour.
 
Despite several phases and attempts by Leinster to inch closer to the try-line, Fitzgerald intercepted a pass to the backline and ran the length of the pitch to score then converted to put Connacht in a commanding position at the break.
 
A series of substitutions, injury treatments and water breaks on a sweltering hot day halted the onslaught after the resumption until the hour mark, when Connacht crossed five times in a bulldozing 17-minute period.
 
The returning Sullivan and fellow centre Forde broke through the home defence from attacking backline moves to cross as Leinster struggled to halt Connacht’s momentum.
 
Replacement Kennedy jotted over after an off-load from Sullivan, McGrath touched down under the posts and McNulty shrugged off a tackle to touch down as Fitzgerald took the scoring to 60.
 
Leinster though, who were competitive at set-pieces – particularly in the scrum – but ultimately second best in all other departments, did finally get points on board from their first foray of the second half inside the Connacht 22’ in the 78th minute.
 
Following a penalty and lineout, substitute Duggan burrowed over from close range and out-half Charlie Tector of Kilkenny College/Lansdowne FC successfully landed his one and only kick.
 
There was still time for Reilly to add further salt to Leinster’s wounds as he crossed for the game’s 12th try and Fitzgerald easily converted his sixth kick to round off the scoring.
 
Scorers – Leinster Rugby Development XV: Tries: Conor Duggan. Cons: Charlie Tector. Connacht Rugby Development XV: Tries: Charlie Ward, Mack Hansen (2), Josh O’Connor, Conor Fitzgerald, Peter Sullivan, Cathal Forde, Darragh Kennedy, Greg McGrath, Oran McNulty, Will Reilly. Cons: Conor Fitzgerald (6).
 
CONNACHT EAGLES XV: Oran McNulty; Josh O’Connor, Peter Sullivan, Cathal Forde, Mack Hansen; Conor Fitzgerald, Will Reilly; Charlie Ward, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Greg McGrath; Eoin Ryan, Fiachna Barrett; Jonny Murphy, Oisin McCormack, Ciaran Booth.
 
Replacements: Kolo Kiripati, Bart Vermeulen, Kacpur Palamarczuk, Gareth Kilkelly, Matthew O’Hara, Matthew Devine, Darragh Kennedy, Declan O’Loughlin.
 
LEINSTER RUGBY DEVELOPMENT XV: Dylan O’Grady (Belvedere College); Fionn Gibbons (Castleknock College), Conor Gibney (CBS Mullingar/Mullingar RFC), Ben Brownlee (Blackrock College), Aitzol Arenzana-King (CUS/Balbriggan RFC); Charlie Tector (Kilkenny College/Lansdowne FC), Seanan Devereux (St. Mary’s College); Ben Popplewell (Wexford Wanderers/Blackrock College), John McKee (Old Belvedere RFC), Thomas Connolly (DUFC); Conor O Tighearnaigh (St. Michael’s College), Fionn McWey (Cistercian College Roscrea); Will McDonald (IQ Rugby), Dylan Ryan (St. Michael’s College/DUFC), Donough Lawlor (Newbridge College).
 
Replacements: Barry Gray (Colaiste Lorcain, Castledermot/Clontarf RFC), Oisin Michel (Partrician Secondary School, Newbridge/Lansdowne RFC), Michael McCormack (St. Mary’s College RFC), Paul Deeney (St. Peter’s College, Wexford / Clontarf RFC), Jonathan Ross (Belvedere College), Conor Duggan (St. Vincent’s Castleknock College), Daniel Hawkshaw (Belvedere College), Callam O’Reilly (St. Michael’s College)
 

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