London-Irish show their credentials

RUGBY NEWS: Leeds 7 London Irish 56:ADAM THOMPSTONE claimed a second-half hat-trick as London Irish ruthlessly swept aside Leeds Carnegie yesterday to send out another emphatic reminder of their English Premiership title credentials.

The Exiles were beaten by Leicester in last season’s Premiership final but hopes are high at the Madejski Stadium that Toby Booth’s men can go one better this time. They certainly had far too much quality for Leeds, and after a penalty try and a Chris Hala’ufia touch down in the first half, they cut loose after the restart by running in five second-half tries.

Hala’ufia completed his brace and Thompstone seized centre stage with his treble before Sailosi Tagicakibau added a late seventh to brutally illustrate the gulf between the sides and give Irish a second successive bonus-point victory.

Leeds lacked nothing in spirit but an outstanding first-half try from highly-rated flanker Kearnan Myall was ultimately little consolation for a team who have been tipped for relegation since the start of the season. Irish exuded the air and confidence of a side who romped to a 40-10 victory over Gloucester last weekend.

Irish pressure led to them being awarded a penalty try converted by Lamb, who added three penalties to put his side 16-0 ahead midway through the first half.

Leeds had showed little as an attacking force until Myall intercepted an errant Irish pass from just inside his own half and raced under the posts for a try which Ceiron Thomas converted.

But seven minutes later the Exiles reasserted their control on the match as Hala’ufia crossed in the right corner and Lamb added the extras.

Soon after the restart Seveali’i broke the Leeds line and ushered the supporting Thompstone under the posts. Four minutes later, the Exiles touched down again when Hala’ufia burrowed his way over in the right corner to secure a bonus point.

Shortly before the hour mark, Thompstone collected possession in the loose and Irish were well out of sight.

Hala’ufia was sinbinned for a dangerous tackle but Thompstone’s eye for a try was evident again in the 72nd minute when he finished off a fine break from replacement Peter Richards to complete his hat-trick.

Tagicakibau took a pass from Lamb to go over in the dying embers and Lamb landed his sixth conversion to seal an outstanding Irish victory.

Scorers:Leeds Carnegie: Tries: Myall. Cons: Thomas. London Irish: Tries: Penalty, Hala'ufia 2, Thompstone 3, Tagicakibau. Cons: Lamb 6. Pens: Lamb 3.

LEEDS CARNEGIE:Goodridge; Welding, Burrell, H Paul, Armstrong; Thomas, Gomarsall; Hardy, Ma'asi, Gomez, Lund, Pendlebury, Myall, Fourie, To'oala. Replacements: Blackett for Welding (54), Mathie for Gomarsall (60), McGee for Gomez (52), D. Paul for Myall (63), Clark for Fourie (52), Nilsen for To'oala (68). Not Used: Moreno, Hepworth.

LONDON IRISH:Hewat; Thompstone, Seveali'i, Mapusua, Tagicakibau; Lamb, Hodgson; Murphy, Buckland, Rautenbach, Kennedy, Casey, Danaher, S Armitage, Hala'ufia. Replacements: Richards for Seveali'i (56), Malone for Mapusua (68), Lalanne for Hodgson (59), Paice for Buckland (56), Ion for Rautenbach (48), Perry for Casey (56). Not Used: Dermody, Stowers.

Sin Bin: Kennedy (39).

Referee:Rob Debney (Leicestershire).