Leinster kicked off their British & Irish Cup campaign with a bonus point 32-18 victory over Esher RFC on Saturday afternoon in Molesey Road…
Noel Reid kicked the visitors into an early 3-0 lead with a penalty which was levelled moments later by the English side, however Brendan Macken touched down for the game’s opening try in the 10th minute to help Leinster regain an 8-3 advantage.
A Leo Auva’a try in the 19th minute stretched Leinster’s lead, converted by Reid, before the former St. Michael’s College out-half added another penalty four minutes later to make it 18-3.
It was all Leinster at this stage but credit to the London club who added their first try of the game on 36 minutes, which was also converted. However a try from Andrew Conway on the stroke of half-time after a well worked move, which Reid again converted, gave Leinster a seemingly conclusive 25-10 lead at the interval.
Credit to Esher who rallied in the second half and their pressure was rewarded with tries on 46 and 61 minutes but substitute Ben Marshall’s 65th minute try ensured the bonus point, with Reid again adding the points to make it 32-18.
LEINSTER:
15: Andrew Conway (Danny Riordan, 62)
14: Darren Hudson
13: Brendan Macken
12: Colm O’Shea
11: Fionn Carr
10: Noel Reid (Cathal Marsh, 70)
9: John Cooney (Luke McGrath, 74)
1: Jack O’Connell
2: Aaron Dundon
3: Jamie Hagan (Martin Moore, 57)
4: Steven Sykes (Ben Marshall, 44) (Tom Sexton, 70)
5: Mark Flanagan
6: Ciaran Ruddock
7: Dominic Ryan CAPTAIN (Conor Gilsenan, 16)
8: Leo Auva’a
Head Coach: Colin McEntee, Assistant Coach: Girvan Dempsey, Team Manager: Michael Kearney
