Leinster’s reign as British and Irish Cup champions over after defeat to Worcester

Worcester 15 Leinster A 13

Leinster's two-year reign as B&I Cup champions is over after they were edged out by Championship leaders Worcester.

The home side scored a try in each half and not even a late converted score from international centre Noel Reid could salvage the tie.

It was very much a case of missed chances for Leinster in the opening half. Cathal Marsh missed two penalties inside the opening 10 minutes before finally slotting over his third kick of the night on 25 minutes to chalk up the game's first points.

Moments earlier the visitors had a chance to rack up the first try of then game with a breathtaking move down the right. Winger Sam Coghlan-Murray stepped on the gas to storm through from halfway before feeding Cian Kelleher. The full-back flicked the ball back inside to Mick McGrath but it was knocked on and the chance went begging.

Tiff Eden had missed a couple of early penalties for the home side but when referee Craig Evans lost patience with the visiting front row and binned loosehead Peter Dooley, the Worcester kicker neatly put another kick to the corner and from the resulting line-out, back row Mat Gilbert was driven over, Eden adding the extras.

A Marsh penalty a minute before the break closed the gap to a single point but determined tackling from the home side stopped denied them a try.

There was little between the sides early in the second half apart from a couple of wayward penalties but the game came to life on 65 minutes when the Sixways side bagged their second try, a break from just inside the Leinster half from full-back Perry Humphreys.

Andy Symons added what was to be a vital penalty five minutes from the end before Reid sped through for a consolation score, Marsh kicking the conversion.

WORCESTER: Humphreys, Smith, Fatiaki (Hammond 78), Grove (Symons 55), Biggs, Eden, Bruzulier (Arr 59); Fainga'Anuku, Sowrey (George 52), Rees (Daniels 52), Percival, Sanderson, Cox (Taylor 73), Gilbert, De Carpentier. Reps (not used): Bower
LEINSTER: Kelleher, Coghlan-Murray, Te'o (O'Shea 74), Reid, M McGrath, Marsh, L McGrath (Rock 76); Dooley, Dundon (Byrne 63), Burke-Flynn (Hirst 76), Molony, Denton, Marshall (Coghlan 28), Leavy (Beirne 68), Timmins. Reps (not used): Crosbie.
Referee: Craig Evans