Leinster
A got their British & Irish Cup defence off to a decent start with a 31-24 victory over Plymouth Albion at Brickfields. What might have irked coach Girvan Dempsey was the late concession of two converted tries to allow the home side
rescue a bonus point.
Leinster were leading 31-10 up to that point against a side that are bottom of the English Championship. The visitors didn't manage a bonus point of their own, scoring three tries from Sam Coghlan Murray, Ben Marshall and Cian Kelleher. Ireland Under-20 outhalf Ross Byrne kicked four penalties and two conversions.
The Plymouth team contained a brace of Irish players; centre Ben Woods, who started, and flanker Eoghan Grace, who came on as a replacement.
Munster A beat a Kevin Maggs-coached Moseley 27-21 in Clonmel. Ronan O'Mahony and Paddy Butler scored tries while Rory Scannell chipped in with 17 points. Irish qualified Caolan Ryan crossed for a late try and added the conversion for Moseley to earn a bonus point.
The Ulster Ravens lost 18-14 to Aberavon with prop Ruaidhri Murphy grabbing their only try and Sean O'Hagan tagging on three penalties. Connacht Eagles lost 50-34 to Bristol at Ashton Gate. Trailing 33-6 at half-time the Irish province rallied scoring four second half tries, two from captain Eoghan Masterson and one apiece from Ciaran Gaffney and Caolin Blade to earn a try bonus point.
Shoulder injury
Irish qualified Jack Tovey came on for Bristol as did Darren Hudson, who started his first game for the club following a shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined since joining from Leinster during the summer.
Elsewhere in the British & Irish Cup, Belfast born hooker Niall Annett was on the Worcester Warriors side that beat Nottingham 26-19 – Conor Carey was tighthead prop.
Former Ireland underage international Kieran Hallett kicked 15 points as the Cornish Pirates won 35-34 againsts the Bedford Blues, for whom the on-loan (Saracens) Eoin Sheriff played. Peter Lydon kicked two conversions and a penalty as London Scottish lost at Pontypridd. Stewart Maguire started at tighthead prop for the visitors.
In the Aviva Premiership Gareth Steenson scored 19 points as the Exeter Chiefs beat London Irish 44-24 at Sandy Park. Ian Whitten and Ryan Caldwell came on as second half replacements. Eamon Sheridan started in the centre for Irish but he was replaced by Fergus Mulchrone while Tomás O'Leary came on just before half-time. Tom Court began at loosehead prop.
In the French Top 14 Chris Farrell played the first 65 minutes as Grenoble beat Brive 26-25 while James Hart sat on the bench.
