RUGBY:THE LEINSTER Under-19s whacked Ulster Under-19 Clubs 40-3 at Donnybrook on Saturday before IRFU high-performance manager Allen Clarke, Leinster Academy manager Colin McEntee and Trinity College director of rugby Tony Smeeth.
This was a scouting occasion for all the provincial academies and Leinster captain Jack Conan, lock Alan O’Connor and outhalf Peter Lydon caught the eye as Ulster were buried under an avalanche of second-half points.
Earlier in the day, the Ulster Under-19 Schools came from behind to edge out Leinster’s second-string Under-19 side 20-13 with late tries from impressive centre Peter Nelson and replacement Chris Best.
The rise in standards of the youths’ game, more recently known as the clubs, was illustrated by the Leinster Under-18s as they swept aside Ulster 36-9 in the Interprovincial Championship at Donnybrook on Saturday.
The main beneficiaries of a solid all-round execution of a simple, effective game plan by coach Eric Miller were centre Kieran Butler and flanker Akhlaque Khan, with both pinching a pair of tries.
Centre Thomas Daly, wing Adam Byrne, Khan and number eight Eoghan Masterson were the standout performers.
This result means Leinster are nearly sure of the Championship unless Connacht can unleash a defeat of wide proportion at Donnybrook next Saturday.
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