Leinster sealed a bonus point 38-23 victory over Worcester Warriors in Sunday’s British & Irish Cup clash in Donnybrook…
Leinster began the game with good intensity and dominated territory early on with out-half Ian McKinley marshalling affairs and the hosts’ early pressure was rewarded with a 15th minute try from Andrew Conway.
The Blackrock winger took a superbly timed overhead pass from a John Cooney break to sprint clear of the Warriors defence and touch down under the posts at the Bective end.
McKinley slotted home the conversion to make it 7-0. The visitors had a chance to reduce the deficit but Willie Walker’s penalty attempt struck the upright three minutes later, however Walker made amends with a penalty in the 21st minute.
With Jack McGrath and Ciaran Ruddock putting in strong shifts around the park Leinster looked composed and rigid in defence, but as the half neared its conclusion Worcester hooker Ed Shirvington touched down after a clearance kick was blocked down to give the visitors a 10-7 lead after Walker added the extras.
In the 38th minute McKinley levelled the scores with a sweetly struck penalty to make it 10-10 but Worcester skipper Adam Balding crashed over in the last move of the half to give the visitors a 15-10 half time lead.
Leinster started the second half brightly and Eoin Sheriff swooped and gathered a lineout inside the Warriors defence to race clear unopposed to level the scores, with McKinley’s conversion helping the province regain the lead 17-15 after 42 minutes.
Conway bagged his second try of a sun-kissed afternoon four minutes later after gathering a Brendan Macken offload after a good initial Niall Morris burst to make it 24-15 after McKinley slotted home the conversion into the Wesley end.
Walker’s 65th minute penalty reduced Leinster’s lead to six points, but substitute Michael Keating extended the lead with Leinster’s bonus point try when he took a good Jordi Murphy pass to race in and score with McKinley adding the difficult touchline conversion before prop McGrath’s excellent all-round display was rewarded with a try when he broke through the Worcester defence to core.
McKinley’s conversion brought his personal tally up to 13 points, but Worcester winger Sam Miller’s late try made it 38-23.
*Leinster face Curries next Sunday, 23rd January in Donnybrook (KO: 2pm). There will be free entrance for Leinster Season Ticket Holders into this game upon presentation of this year’s membership card.