Match report: Leinster 34 Hollywoodbets Sharks 13

Jordan Larmour, Max Deegan, Rob Russell and Tommy O’Brien were amongst the tries at the RDS on Saturday as Leinster claimed a bonus point victory against Hollywoodbets Sharks in their first home game of the new United Rugby Championship season.

Eager to bounce back from last weekend’s 43-25 defeat to Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun Stadium, the Blues were briefly in arrears during the opening period before ultimately assuming control of the play. While Ireland’s World Cup contingent are yet to return to competitive club action, Michael Ala’alatoa was selected in the starting line-up following his exploits with Samoa in France and there was also a debut appearance for All-Ireland League stalwart Dylan Donnellan.

The Sharks had lost out to Munster in their opening game of the new URC season at Thomond Park last Saturday, but the Durban-based side opened the scoring in this fixture courtesy of a penalty from out-half Curwin Bosch with just over a minute gone on the clock.

Yet Leinster weren’t behind for long as a prolonged move inside the Sharks ‘22’ – after Harry Byrne had opted for touch off a penalty – ended with scrum-half Cormac Foley unleashing an elaborate pass out wide for Larmour to finish on the left-wing.

Byrne was off-target from a difficult touchline conversion attempt, however, and the Sharks regained control of the scoreboard when Bosch expertly split the uprights off a long-distance penalty on the stroke of 10 minutes. The Port Elizabeth native also tried his luck off the kicking tee from inside his own half moments later, but his third effort of the action floated past the target on this occasion.

The Sharks’ one-point cushion remained intact heading into the second-quarter, before Max Deegan capped a landmark appearance with Leinster’s next try of the proceedings. The two-times capped Ireland international was picking up his 100th cap in blue and after Lee Barron had given the hosts momentum with a quick tap and go, he was on hand to drive powerfully over the opposition whitewash for a five-pointer that was supplemented by a Byrne bonus strike.

This released the pressure on Leo Cullen’s men, who proceeded to dominate both possession and territory for the remainder of the half. However, the visitors held firm during a difficult period (which included their opponents being awarded a five-metre attacking scrum) to ensure Leinster ultimately brought a 12-6 buffer into the dressing rooms at the interval.

The Blues did suffer a set-back when Barron was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Sharks hooker Kerron van Vuuren two minutes after the resumption, but it didn’t prevent them extending their lead ahead of the Leinster number two’s return to the field of play.

When Italian referee Federico Vedovelli awarded the home team a penalty right in front of the posts, Byrne calmly stepped up to the kicking tee and added three points to his and Leinster’s tally for the night.

At the same time that Barron resumed his position in the Leinster scrum, head coach Cullen also introduced Will Connors (who had appeared briefly as a first half blood replacement) and Rob Russell to the fray. The latter made an instant impact as he got on the end of an attack on the right-hand side for his 11th try in just 19 senior appearances for the province.

The Leinster coaching team continued to explore their reserve options and Sam Prendergast was given an 18 minute run-out on what was his home debut for the Blues. After kicking superbly to touch moments earlier, the Kildare man booted a delicate pass right into the grateful arms of Tommy O’Brien, who side-stepped his way over the line for Leinster’s bonus point try.

The Sharks had looked set to end the game on a positive note when replacement hooker Dylan Richardson got through for a 80th minute five-pointer, but Leinster had the final say when a defensive error opened the door for Russell to score his second try of the game in stoppage-time.

SCORERS: LEINSTER – Rob Russell 2 tries, Jordan Larmour, Max Deegan, Tommy O’Brien try each, Harry Byrne penalty, 2 conversions, Sam Prendergast conversion.

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS – Dylan Richardson try, Curwin Bosch 2 penalties, Boeta Chamberlain conversion.