Gael Force 22 - 33 Leinster: Four-try Gael Force defeated again

Published on Wednesday 10 March 2010 22:23

GAEL Force fought hard, but ultimately lost their fifth and final British and Irish Cup pool match with Leinster at Bridgehaugh last night.

Home stand-off Gregor Hunter showed up well in the early stages before kicking a penalty wide after 12 minutes. It was the visitors that scored the game's first try when No 8 Leo Auva'a bulldozed his way over after sustained forward pressure.

Eight minutes later Gael Force, who finish Pool A on five defeats out of five, hit back with a try of their own. Scrum-half Ross Samson started the attack with a jinking run and a couple of phases later hooker Sean Crombie set up Stewart's Melville winger Michael Doneghan for the score. The game was in the balance for the next few minutes until home back-row Fraser McKenzie was yellow carded for holding on to the ball on the ground, but stand-off Ian Madigan missed the resultant penalty and it was Gael Force who took the lead before the break.

A good move saw Scotland Sevens winger Tom Bury going over to make it 10-7.

The second half started at a high intensity and it was the visitors who retook the lead after 47 minutes when centre Shane Monahan dived over after a good break from back-row Jordi Murphy. Madigan converted from wide out to make it 14-10.

They added another seven minutes later, Samoan Auv'a doing the damage again. Leinster full-back Michael Keating was then yellow carded as the match entered the final quarter.

Samson gave Gael Force hope with his side's third try of the night, but again Hunter's conversion slipped wide.

However, Leinster made the game safe with tries from back-row Eoin Sheriff and Monahan.

For Gael Force Samson showed up well, although his match ended worryingly when he collided with a post and had to be taken off.

Back-row Stefan Dreyer got a late consolation try too.

Scorers: Gael Force: Tries: Doneghan, Bury, Samson, Dreyer. Con: Jackson. Leinster: Tries: Auva'a 2, Monahan 2, Sheriff. Cons: Madigan 4.

Gael Force: C Gossman; M Doneghan, S Aitken, S Wilson, T Bury; G Hunter, R Samson; L Niven; S Crombie, D Young, N Patrick, R McAlpine, F McKenzie, G Strang S Dreyer. Subs used: G Walsh, D Orr, R Jenkins, R Gibson, S Kennedy, C Jackson, R Lemon.

Leinster: M Keating; D Fanning, S Monahan, S Tonetti, M Healy; I Madigan, D Moore; R McCormack, T Sexton, J McGrath, T Hogan, C Ruddock, E Sheriff, L Auva'a, J Murphy. Subs used: J Harris-Wright, A Lyons, M Noone, J Risdon, B Kingston, M Dufficy, M Rantz-McDonald.

Referee: M Tutty.