Leinster Leave Canada With Hard Fought Victory
Contributed Article: Derek Bressette
Rugby 15s Senior Men
A massive second half effort from Canada fell just short, as Leinster squeaked out the winning try on the last play of the game to take it 38-35 in Canada's first of three Rugby World Cup warm-up games on home soil.
After traveling across the Atlantic, Leinster wasted no time against Canada and jumped out to an early 19-0 lead.
Leinster took advantage of the great field position afforded to them by two Canadian penalties. Leinster built up pressure and after nearly scoring a try on two occasions, Max Deegan finally opened the scoring on the back of strong play from the forwards.
After finding some space, Barry Daly’s pass would be intercepted by Tyler Ardron, but Ed Byrne would take it right back and offload to Bryan Byrne for a try converted by Ciaran Frawley.
Leinster was awarded a scrum 5m away from the Canadian line and Caelan Doris would pick the ball and have a crack at a try. He would be stopped short, but Deegan would be there to clean it up and pick up his 2nd try of the match.
Canada would begin to build some pressure and the majority of the remainder of the half would be played in Leinster’s end. However, the defense would hold strong turning the Canadians away at every opportunity. Bryan Byrne would pick a yellow card for not repeated infractions in the 38th minute. Canada would capitalize quickly as Canada would pounce on an overthrown ball from the Leinster lineout and work through some phases before Evan Olmstead would dot it down as the half came to an end.
The Canadians would pick up right where they left off to begin the 2nd half and they applied plenty of pressure early. Tyler Ardron would pick the ball from the back of a scrum 5m away from Leinster’s line and beat the tackle of O’Sullivan for the 2nd Canadian try.
Canada used some nice ball movement in their back line to create an overlap on the left side of Leinster’s defensive line. Patrick Parfrey would finish off the try and give Canada their first lead of the game.
Leinster would quickly respond with a great play from the set piece that saw Josh Murphy restore the Leinster lead. It would be short live though as Kyle Baillie charged down a kick from Harry Byrne and score a try just 3 minutes later. Parfrey would add to the lead moments later after Nick Blevins and DTH van der Merwe ran a give-and-go- play to open up some space.
Leinster found themselves down 35-24 with just 6 minutes remaining. They would demonstrate plenty of resiliency in those final 6 minutes as they put Canada under immense pressure. Caelan Doris would pick up a try to set up a dramatic finish. With the clock reading “80:00”, the Leinster forwards wore down the Canadian defense. Cian Kelleher’s pass would find Hugo Keenan who would break through the tackle of 2 Canadian defenders for an 81st minute try and give Leinster the 38-35 victory.
Canada will continue their build to the 2019 Rugby World Cup next week, facing off against a BC All Stars team before their final home match against USA in Vancouver on September 7th. Tickets are available at https://rugby.ca/en/tickets
Leinster 38
Canada 35
TRY: Deegan (6, 22), B. Byrne (17), Murphy (61), Doris (71), Keenan (81)
CON: Frawley (17, 23. total 2/3), H. Byrne (71, 81. Total 2/3)
TRY: Olmstead (40), Ardron (46), Parfrey (57, 66), Baillie (63)
CON: Nelson (41, 47, 58, 64, 67. Total 5/5
Leinster (sub on/off)
15 Jimmy O’Brien (HT off, on 67)
14 Adam Byrne (HT off, on 67)
13 O’Loughlin, Rory (HIA off 29, HIA on 37, off 67)
12 O’Brien, Conor (HT)
11 Daly, Barry (67)
10 Frawley, Ciaran (55)
9 O’Sullivan, Hugh (55)
1 Byrne, Ed (48)
2 Byrne, Bryan (yc 38, yc return 47, off 47)
3 Bent, Michael (48)
4 Baird, Ryan (HT)
5 Fardy, Scott © (HT, on 47, off 62)
6 Deegan, Max (HT off)
7 Connors, Will (71)
8 Doris, Caelan (62)
Reserves
16 Tracy, James (HT)
17 Dooley, Peter (48)
18 Abdaladze, Vakh (48)
19 Molony, Ross (HT)
20 Maloney, Martin (71)
21 Patterson, Patrick (55)
22 Byrne, Harry (55)
23 Kelleher, Cian (HT)
Kelleher, Ronan (-)
Murphy, Josh (61)
Keenan, Hugo (HIA on 29, HIA off 37, HT)
Canada
15 Parfrey, Patrick (74)
14 Paris, Taylor (74)
13 LeSage, Ben (62)
12 Hearn, Ciaran (-)
11 van der Merwe, DTH (-)
10 Nelson, Peter (-)
9 McRorie, Gordon (-)
1 Buydens, Hubert (blood off 51)
2 Howard, Eric (78)
3 Tierney, Matthew (69)
4 Olmstead, Evan (-)
5 Keys, Conor (53)
6 Baillie, Kyle (-)
7 Rumball, Lucas (71)
8 Ardron, Tyler (-)
Reserves
16 Piffero, Benoit (78)
17 Sears-Duru, Djustice (blood on 51)
18 Ilnicki, Jake (69)
19 Sheppard, Mike (-)
20 Blanchet, Justin (53)
21 Heaton, Matt (71)
22 Campbell, Luke (-)
23 Mack, Phil (-)
O’Leary, Shane (-)
Blevins, Nick (62)
Trainor, Conor (-)
Sauder, Theo (74)
Coe, Andrew (74)