Leinster 50
Gloucester 14
LEINSTER RAN IN seven tries, including two apiece for Jordan Larmour and Max Deegan, to register their first victory of pre-season against Gloucester at St Mary’s RFC tonight.
With the likes of Rob and Dave Kearney, captain Isa Nacewa and Jordi Murphy back within the ranks, Leo Cullen’s side blew off any cobwebs with a hugely commanding performance, capped by the impressive impacts made by Larmour, Deegan and Hugo Keenan.
After defeat in Perpignan last week, this was always going to mark a step up in Leinster’s pre-season preparations and they duly entertained the large crowd under the lights at Templeville Road.
Deegan crossed either side of half time and second-half replacement Larmour enhanced his growing reputation further with two excellent finishes, the second of which stood out after he raced onto Cathal Marsh’s chip in behind before volleying on and dotting down.
Keenan rounded off the scoring in the final 10 minutes with Bryan Byrne and Nacewa setting the eastern province on their way with first half scores.
It took the hosts just three minutes to take control of the contest and although Gloucester cut the early deficit to five points through Henry Purdy, Leinster pulled away to take a 19-7 advantage into the interval.
Cullen made a raft of changes for the second half having given both Kearneys, Murphy and Nacewa some valuable game time but there was no let up from Leinster as their young guns ripped Gloucester apart.
With practically his first touch, Larmour gathered on the left after a powerful lineout maul and cut inside to score before adding his second 10 minutes later.
There was also a big first shift in blue from Australian Scott Fardy in the second row with the performance and result setting Leinster up nicely for their final pre-season workout against Bath at Donnybrook next Friday.
LEINSTER: 15. Rob Kearney, 14. Hugo Keenan, 13. Adam Byrne, 12. Isa Nacewa (captain), 11. Dave Kearney, 10. Ross Byrne, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Peter Dooley, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. Michael Bent, 4. Ian Nagle, 5. Scott Fardy, 6. Josh Murphy, 7. Jordi Murphy, 8. Max Deegan
Replacements: 16. Sean McNulty, 17. Ed Byrne, 18. Vakh Abdaladze, 19. Oisín Dowling, 21. Charlie Rock, 22. Cathal Marsh, 23. Ian Fitzpatrick, 24. Oisín Heffernan, 25. Mick Kearney, 26. Will Connors, 27. Barry Daly, 29. Fergus McFadden, 30. Jordan Larmour.
GLOUCESTER: 15. David Halaifonua, 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Henry Trinder, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. Ollie Thorley, 10. Owen Williams, 9. Willi Heinz (captain); 1. John Afoa, 2. Henry Walker, 3. Fraser Balmain, 4. Ed Slater, 5. Jeremy Thrush, 6. Jake Polledri, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Freddie Clarke.
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