DLSP will rue several missed opportunities that denied them a chance of victory during Saturday's second Heineken Leinster Senior Cup semi-final at Stradbrook. Desperately clinging to Lansdowne coat-tails for two thirds of the match, the Kilternan-based club dominated the closing 20 minutes.
Despite DLSP's territorial ascendancy, dropped passes and a slavish addiction to battering their way through the heart of their opponent's pack were to prove their undoing. Arguably the most giltedged opportunity - there were several - fell to prominent number eight Declan O'Brien on 70 minutes, but he allowed the ball to spill out of his grasp in the tackle inches from the Lansdowne line.
DLSP were never afforded the same latitude in the closing exchanges and it was Lansdowne who ensured victory when full back Rory Kearns kicked his second penalty on 82 minutes. Until that moment the defending champions were unable to sustain their occasional bouts of excellent rugby. Lansdowne began proceedings as if they would steamroll the men in black, grabbing a fine try in the first minute through under21 international wing Melvin McNamara. He cut through the DLSP cover, appearing from his wing on a slanting run between the centres.
Kearns missed the conversion, but when flanker Garrett Molloy was driven over for a try following a line-out take and maul 10 minutes later, the full back posted the extra points: Lansdowne appeared a class apart. Kurt McQuilkin and Shane Horgan threatened in the centre, Molloy, Colin McEntee and Stephen O'Connor seemed to be enjoying the spade work and, generally, there was a fluency to an expansive gameplan.
Fortunately for few who lingered for the second match, DLSP had no intention of indulging their Division One opponents and set about redressing the balance. A penalty from out-half Tommy James preceded a superb individual try from scrum-half Brian Hogan on 21 minutes.
Securing possession just inside his own half, Hogan raced around the narrow blind side, darted down the touchline and chipped over Kearns, winning the race for the subsequent touchdown. James converted brilliantly from the touchline.
Displaying the authority of champions, Lansdowne responded on 30 minutes with a try from Willie Clancy, after quick line-out ball and quick hands across the back line. Kearns failed with the conversion. One sensed that if Lansdowne could sustain their superiority for longer periods the scores would follow.
They once again displayed great fluency three minutes after the interval with the pack punching holes, creating a weight of numbers advantage behind the scrum. McNamara profited, crossing for his second try after a three-man overlap had been created. Kearns converted.
Lansdowne waited expectantly, but far from capitulating, DLSP offered the perfect retort, a fine try from centre Niall O'Riordan. James's conversion brought the Division Two side back to within seven points, 24-17. Kearns and the DLSP out-half swapped penalties and the final 15 minutes promised an interesting climax.
However, try as DLSP undoubtedly did, particularly Declan O'Brien, Paul Nikora and Phil Werahiko, their ability to complete powerful approach play was flawed by poor hands and a lack of vision. Lansdowne's defence remained resolute and they even mustered a last counter-attack that precipitated Kearns's late penalty.
Scoring sequence: 1 min: McNamara try, 50; 11: Molloy try, Kearns conversion, 12-0; 15: James penalty, 12-3; 21: Hogan try, James conversion, 12-10; 30: Clancy try, 17-10; 33: McNamara try, Kearns conversion, 24-10; 46: O'Riordan try, James conversion, 24-17; 48: Kearns penalty, 27-17; 54: James penalty, 2720; 82: Kearns penalty, 30-20.
Lansdowne: R Kearns; W Clancy, S Horan, K McQuilkin, M McNamara; J Woods, D O'Mahony; E Bohan, C Egan, O Ennis, W Aherne, S O'Connor, S Rooney, C McEntee, G Molloy. Replacement: R Niland for McQuilkin, 79 mins.
DLSP: E Davitt; J Corr, N O'Riordan, M Cunningham, R Garvey; T James, B Hogan; C Condren, S Hayes, S Cullen, P Nikora, K Wheelock, P Werahiko, D O'Brien, P Nugent. Replacment: P Sheridan for Nugent, 76 mins.
Referee: S Buggy (Leinster).
The Wales captain Robert Howley has urged the Welsh Rugby Union to cancel next month's tour of South Africa. The tour was in doubt because of political uncertainty in South Africa, but that has been resolved by the resignation of Louis Luyt as president of the South African Rugby Football Union.
But Howley believes that Wales, who last week parted company with their coach Kevin Bowring, should call off their visit because of mounting injury problems and because Bowring's successor will not be appointed before the squad departs on June 6th.
"We could be without 13 players," said Howley. "In some positions, whoever is coaching the side will not have the first- or second-choice players." The wing Gareth Thomas broke his arm playing for Cardiff on Saturday and was added to the injury list, which already included Neil Jenkins, Stuart Davies and Kevin Morgan.
