Leinster Schools Lose it Late

Australia Schools scored three tries in the final ten minutes to deny Leinster Schools what would have been a famous victory at Donnybrook. The final scoreline, 30-22, did an injustice

Australia Schools scored three tries in the final ten minutes to deny Leinster Schools what would have been a famous victory at Donnybrook. The final scoreline, 30-22, did an injustice to a superb Leinster effort which saw them lead 22-9 as the game entered the final stages.

However, then the power of the visitors shone through as they upped the pace to claim a morale boosting victory over the champion interprovincial side ahead of the Test match in Cork on Saturday.

Scrum half David Connellan (Clongowes) gave Leinster the perfect start with a penalty after just two minutes but Australia responded with a like score from their out-half David Dillon five minutes later. A second Dillon penalty put the visitors in front but this score simply galvanised the Irish effort and Connellan’s 17th minute penalty and his conversion of Ross McCarron’s 32nd minute try had Leinster 13-6 up at the break.

Connellan extended the lead with an early second half penalty which replacement number 10 Chris Lyons nullified three minutes later. Two more penalties from the Clongowes kicker and Leinster looked home and hosed with the game drawing to a close.

But then the sting in the Australian tail. Three tries, from Chris Siale, Simon Hockings and wing Kieron Massey, each converted by Lyons, gave the tourists victory but not before an enormous fright.