Sport

Physique tells in rapid try-fest

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH/Leinster A 27 Crawshays 31: IF THIS is a taste of what is to come this afternoon, then bring it on

Sat Mar 08 2008 - 00:00

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH/Leinster A 27 Crawshays 31:IF THIS is a taste of what is to come this afternoon, then bring it on. The Welsh Invitational Crawshays just got the better of a pulsating, nine-try shoot-out at Donnybrook last night.

The Crawshays included Welsh internationals Adam Jones, Hywel Jenkins and Nathan Brew, along with Scotland's Bruce Douglas and Tonga's Hale T-Pole.

The home side eased to a lead courtesy of outhalf James Power's penalty, but soon the physique of the mature Crawshays began to play a part in the contact area.

An chip over the top bounced high for Shaun Connor to latch onto for a free run. Then wing Brew was the extra man on the left for the second in the 16th minute.

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A smart exchange down the blindside released Fionn Carr for Leinster's A's opening touchdown.

Leinster made three replacements at half-time and, one of them, Stuart Abbott, followed up for a try when Cillian Willis was stopped short of the line.

Leinster's other tries came when Ian Keatley was introduced and his first touch sent wing Felix Jones over before Cillian Willis's block left McCarron to touch down.

SCORERS - Leinster A: F Carr, S Abbott, R McCarron, F Jones try each; J Power pen, con; I Keatley con. Crawshays: N Brew, D Hewitt 2 tries each; S Connor try, 2 cons; A Thomas con.

LEINSTER A: R McCarron; F Carr, G Brown, M Berne, F Jones; J Power, C Keane; R McCormack, B Blaney, S Knoop, D Toner, C Jowitt, C McInerney, S O'Brien (capt), K McLaughlin. Replacements: S Rockett for McLaughlin (38 mins); J Gomez for Knoop, C Willis for Keane, S Abbott for O'Brien (all h-t); I Keatley for Power (50 mins); R Sweeney for Jowitt, J Hagan for McCormack (both 70 mins).

CRAWSHAYS: A Thomas; J Jones, D Hewitt, A Bishop, N Brew; S Connor, W Evans; C Griffiths, C Hawkins, B Douglas, A Jones, L Bateman, H Jenkins, H T-Pole, T Smith (capt). Replacements: E Shirvington for Hawkins (50 mins); A Jenkins for J Jones, A Walker for Evans (both 65 mins); A Murphy for Douglas, M Collins for A Jones, R Jones for Jenkins (all 74 mins).

Referee: D Phillips (IRFU).