Physical Munster gain hard-earned advantage

SCHOOLS’ INTERPROVINCIALS: MUNSTER made use of their physical superiority and two Leinster sinbinnings to carve out a deserved…

SCHOOLS' INTERPROVINCIALS:MUNSTER made use of their physical superiority and two Leinster sinbinnings to carve out a deserved win at Donnybrook yesterday.

The visitors struck for two tries when Leinster prop Des Merrey was yellow-carded for side entrance to a ruck five metres from his line. Blindside Eoin Crosse swivelled over and centre Jamie McGarry darted to the left corner to earn a 15-3 interval lead.

Leinster started to make inroads through their lighter, more mobile pack, with Ross Jones kicking his second and third penalties. McGarry’s break forced centre James Kearns into using hands on the floor. He was binned. Centre JJ Hanrahan landed two Munster penalties before number eight Adam Clarkin added a late Leinster try.

LEINSTER:R Jones (Castleknock); C Finn (Cistercian, Roscrea), M Roche (Blackrock), J Kearns (CBC Monkstown), S Coghlan-Murray (Newbridge); C Marsh (St Michael's), L McGrath (St Michael's); D Merrey (King's Hospital) T Austin (Castleknock), P Reilly (Castleknock), L Curran (St Mary's, capt), J Conan (St Gerard's), M Oyuga (Belvedere), B du Toit (King's Hospital), A Clarkin (Terenure College). Replacements: J Cawley (St Andrew's) for Oyuga (20 mins-temp); D Hogan (Blackrock College) for Austin (63 mins); I Burke (DLS, Churchtown) for McGrath, P Lydon (Kilkenny) for Marsh, D Ruddock (Kilkenny) for Finn (all 69 mins).

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MUNSTER:J Costigan (PBC); P Curtis (St Munchin's), J McGarry (Ardscoil Rís), JJ Hanrahan (Rockwell), T Ryan (Crescent); S Óg Murphy (PBC), N Cronin (Castletroy); N Scannell (PBC), J Rael (Castletroy), R Martin (CBC), Y Brown (CBC), S Buckley (Rockwell, capt), E Crosse (Crescent), C Gallagher (CBC), R Murphy (PBC). Replacements: E Carr (St Munchin's) for McGarry (73 mins).

Referee:J Coyle (Ulster Society).