Munster 'A' suffer defeat to Leinster 'A' in interprovincial clash

THE Munster Rugby 'A' side suffered a 22-7 defeat to Leinster 'A' in their interprovincial fixture played at Terenure College's Lakelands grounds on Friday evening.

Leinster, who led 17-7 at half-time, ran in four tries in the derby to secure a bonus point win. 

Home side Leinster led 10-0 after 11 minutes of the game, thanks to early tries from winger Ciaran Mangan and hooker John McKee.

Munster settled into the game and enjoyed a good period of possession and territory. However, the visitors failed to take advantage.

They were made pay when Leinster 'A' struck for a third try in the 25th minute through winger Aitzol Arenzana-King. Harry Byrne's conversion had the home side 17-0 to the good.

To their credit, Munster 'A' hit back before half-time to open their account as Gordon Wood and Brian Gleeson created the opening with Tom Ahern’s dotting down from close range. Tony Butler converted to make it 17-7 at the break.

Leinster 'A' struck for the bonus point try soon after the hour mark through King to seal a deserved win.

SCORERS: Leinster 'A': Aitzol Arenzana-King 2 tries; Ciaraán Mangan, John McKee try each; Harry Byrne con. Munster 'A': Tom Ahern try; Tony Butler con.

LEINSTER RUGBY ‘A’: Ruben Moloney; Aitzol Arenzana-King, Connor Fahy, Ben Brownlee, Ciarán Mangan; Harry Byrne, Cormac Foley; Alex Usanov, John McKee, Niall Smyth, Alan Spicer, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Alex Soroka, Liam Molony, Scott Penny (Capt). Replacements: Rory McGuire for Smyth (17 mins), Billy Corrigan for Molony (26 mins), Ben Howard for Corrigan (37 mins, temp), Fintan Gunne for Foley (45 mins); Adam La Grue for Mangan (49 mins), Stephen Smyth for McKee (58 mins), Casper Gabriel for Byrne (60 mins), Mahon Ronan for Spicer (63 mins), Aaron O’Brien for Soroka (67 mins), Charlie Molony for Brownlee (73 mins).

MUNSTER RUGBY ‘A’: Ben O’Connor; Gordon Wood, Gene O’Leary-Kareem, Eoghan Smyth, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Paddy Patterson; George Hadden, Eoghan Clarke, Ronan Foxe; Tom Ahern, Evan O’Connell (Capt), Jack Daly, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson. Replacements: Conor Ryan for Ahern (half-time); Scott Buckley for Clarke, Conor Bartley for Hadden, Emmet Calvey for Foxe, Sean Edogbo for Quinn (all 45 mins), Oisín Pepper for McCarthy (48 mins); Jack Oliver for Patterson, Dylan Hicks for Butler (both 53 mins).

REFEREE: P Roux (France).